How to Cure Your Spinal Cord Injury: The Cobra Kai Way
February 1, 2021
Mat Barton and Adam CooperIn season 3 of the Netflix hit Cobra Kai, everyone’s favorite reformed karate instructor, Johnny Lawrence, shows off his unorthodox approach to rehab when high school crane-kicker Miguel Diaz sustains an SCI. Johnny tries motivating his prime student to heal by lighting his shoelaces on fire and dangling swimsuit magazines just out of his reach. Does it work? Of course it does, it’s Hollywood! Mat Barton and Adam Cooper break down how Johnny and Miguel beat SCI.
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As one of the 80+million people who have watched the Cobra Kai Series on Netflix, I was applaud how Season 3 totally distorts and negatively miss represents the life changing impact of sustaining a SCI. Cobra Kai approaches SCI as like a nagging case of pneumonia “don’t worry in a few short weeks kid you will be back together in no time.” Part of me understands the comedy and humor of Cobra Kai, but Cobra Kai really crosses a line that the disability community should not take lightly. Johnny Lawrence’s approach to rehab is like something from the “Dark Ages” and would result in further serious injuries if attempted in real life. It is imperative that New Mobility and the SCI, disability & medical community turn up the “disability heat” on Cobra Kai, Netflix and the rest of Hollywood -“We’re Not Gonna Take It Any More!”
First of all, you are not “applaud“. You may be appalled.
With all due respect Bill, it is Hollywood and meant for entertainment purposes. In my humble opinion, this country has lost its personality which is a sad state. Of course the young guy rehabilitating in just a couple of weeks and going on to live a normal life is completely fake but so is the entire inception of the show. Hopefully we can all enjoy the entertainment value and not judge so harshly. There are many people out there that exude slander, hatred and bigotry and those are the ones that need proper attention, education and love.
To openly express that this show crosses a line with the disability community I think is an extremely bold point of view and a misrepresentation of our community. I myself, am a quadriplegic but am not overly sensitive to a television show and comedic structure. I also would not dare say that my point of view represents the disability community. Everyone’s voice deserves to be heard and each individual should represent themselves and I would advise not speaking for an entire community. Again, these are just my thoughts and perception. It’s better to laugh and enjoy then to be offended and upset. Stay safe, healthy and enjoying 2021.