Warning! This article contains spoilers for Cobra Kai season 6, part 3.
Cobra Kaiseason 6, part 3 depicts a massive choice for Sam regarding the Sekai Taikai, begging the question of why she comes to the decision she does. Sam’s journey throughoutCobra Kaiseason 6’s storyhas been interesting, ranging from her brief platonic connection with Axel to her budding-then-strained friendship with Tory. In the final part of the show, the individual members ofCobra Kai’s cast of charactersare forced to make several big choices regarding their future, with Sam perhaps making the biggest decisions by the time the show concludes.
Where Sam is concerned, her first decision surroundsCobra Kai’s Sekai Taikai tournament. Despite the death of Kwon in Barcelona, the Sekai Taikai is allowed to continue in the Valley, leaving Miyagi-do, Cobra Kai, and the Iron Dragons to duke it out for the crown of thebest fighters in theKarate Kiduniverse. Sam and Robbie spearhead Miyagi-do’s team, yet the former makes a huge decision ahead of her semifinal match against Tory. Naturally, the burning question afterCobra Kaiseason 6, part 3 is why Sam made this decision in the first place and what it means for her future.
Sam’s Journey Reached Its Natural End
The decision in question was Sam’s decision to forfeit the semifinals of the Sekai Taikai. On the eve of her fight with Tory, Sam finds herself at odds with her own spirit. She questions what she is fighting for, insisting that she used to fight for herself and then to defeat Miyagi-do’s enemies, but now she is not certain of her goal. In a way, this can somewhat link to her friendship with Tory. Sam’s journey throughout the first four seasons ofCobra Kai- and even going into the first half of season 5 - was overcoming her fears.
Sam realized she had fought for everything she wanted to and come to a place in her life that no longer required fighting…
The object of these fears was Tory, who had long been Sam’s tormentor in many ways. However, given thatCobra Kaiseason 6 led Sam and Tory to reconcile their differences and become close friends, Sam realized she had fought for everything she wanted to and come to a place in her life that no longer required fighting. This leads her to conclude that she does not want to fight in the Sekai Taikai, forfeiting the semifinals. This then leads to Sam focusing on other aspects of her life, such as her educational future in Okinawa.
Sam Giving Up Meant That Tory Went Straight To The Final Round
Although Sam’s decision meant a big change for her own future, it also was similarly important to Tory. As alluded to, Sam and Tory were supposed to face off in the Sekai Taikai semifinals given that Zara of the Iron Dragons progressed to the finals on points. After Sam decided to drop out of the tournament, it meant that Tory had a place in the final against Zara. This robbedCobra Kaiseason 6 of a final Sam vs. Tory fight, but it proved the better choice for both characters.
Every Sam vs. Tory Fight In Cobra Kai, Ranked
Sam and Tory have clashed more than almost any two characters in Cobra Kai, and as their relationship has evolved, so have their fights.
For one, Tory passing to the finals without fighting Sam was more satisfying regarding their budding friendship. Sam’s ability to recognize that she did not need to fight anymore but that Tory did proves how far they have come as friends, all while giving Tory an excellent chance to get everything she wanted. Tory has always been a great fighter but has always either fought for the wrong reasons or won via Terry Silver’s cheats and tricks. InCobra Kaiseason 6, part 3, she finally wins something on her own merit and beats Zara in the Sekai Taikai, all thanks to Sam’s choice.
Why Daniel Was Fine With Sam Giving Up The Tournament
Daniel Was Not Upset With Sam’s Decision
Another important scene that stems from Sam’s decision not to fight in the Sekai Taikai is when she tells her father, Daniel, about it. Naturally, Sam is somewhat trepidatious to tell Daniel about her decision knowing that he has dedicated so much of his life to stopping Cobra Kai, John Kreese, Terry Silver, and, by extension, the Iron Dragons. Sam is shown to be worried as she fears Daniel will be angry at her for dropping out of the fight when they are so close to beating their enemies once and for all.
However, it comes as a surprise to Sam when Daniel is overly supportive of her decision, causing many to wonder why. As Daniel points out to Sam, one of Mr. Miyagi’s biggest lessons is about the need to fight. Daniel explains to Sam that he initially began to learn karate as he wanted to overcome his bullies, something that she can relate to. That said,Daniel goes on to say that Miyagi made sure to convey to him what karate is truly about: learning when to stop fighting. This has actually been a theme throughoutCobra Kai.
Many people in Daniel’s life have tried to pull him back from the fight, be it Amanda or even the spirit of Miyagi urging Daniel to let go. Regardless, he has persevered and pushed through to the Sekai Taikai. Sam helps Daniel realize that not fighting should be the goal, and he personifies this himself when he lets go of Miyagi-do and embraces Cobra Kai alongside Johnny so that the latter can come out on top as Tory did. For this lesson, Daniel is immensely proud of Sam, thus supporting her decision wholeheartedly.
How Sam Giving Up The Sekai Taikai Changed The Final Rounds
Sam’s Decision Led To More Changes Than Just Tory’s Final Fight
The most obvious change that Sam’s decision made was Tory progressing to the Sekai Taikai finals, but it actually had bigger consequences. With Sam dropping out, Miyagi-do had no chance of winning the Sekai Taikai tournament. This meant that the Iron Dragons automatically won given that Tory defeating Zara would not give Cobra Kai enough points to overcome Sensei Wolf’s dojo. This led to the reclamation of the Cobra Kai dojo by Johnny, Daniel, and Chozen, prompting Miguel and Tory to fight for Cobra Kai.
Terry Silver was not the head of the Iron Dragons and John Kreese did not lead Cobra Kai as both were killed during a fateful boat explosion inCobra Kaiseason 6’s penultimate episode.
Miguel and Tory both won their matches, meaning Cobra Kai and the Iron Dragons were tied on total points. This resulted in one final showdown between Sensei Wolf and Johnny Lawrence, with the latter coming out on top. Cobra Kai became the Sekai Taikai champions, a result that never would have occurred if Sam had not made the decision to stand down from the fight. In many ways, Sam’s decision inCobra Kaiseason 6, part 3 was the catalyst for many of the show’s storylines ending as satisfyingly as they did.
