Ranger Walker vs Mr. Miyagi

September 1Sep 1

Now that they have both actors passed (RIP) and it has been enough time, I think it is our duty to answer this question: Who would win a one-on-one fight to the death between Ranger Walker and Mr. Miyagi? No rules, no time limit, no weapons, no sparring gear, and no tapping out. One match, winner lives, loser dies.

Now, I realize these are both the good guys and not only would likely have respect and admiration for each other but also would be on the same team. However, lets pretending something went horribly wrong and they decided to fight to the death. Try not to overthink the reasons here, since it is only the most important thing you will ever vote on in your entire life. This is bigger than the Super Bowl, World Series. Stanley Cup Finals, and all the UFC and Boxing title fights combined, then multiply that by about 700 trillion, and you have this.

Context matters: so I will lay out the setting.

City and State: Las Vegas, Nevada. Why? Because neither character has any roots there, so no home advantage. Also, Pat Morita died in Las Vegas, and Chuck Norris had his public memorial there also, so it seemed to fit.

Atmosphere: It is approaching midnight on Halloween, Oct 31, 2026, a Saturday night where the air is cool, and calm, they sky is clear and the moon is...,not full but you can see it really well.

Fight Venue: A local park in the suburbs, miles from the noise and casinos on the strip, on real grass, outside under the lights. Lots of space to move. Plenty of room to stand around and watch the match, but no seats, standing room only. Spectators are asked to stay off the grass at all times and told to stand on the sidewalk or in the parking lot. Think of it is kind of a small soccer field with a sidewalk around it, a parking lot at the south end, and high stadium lights above the grass as well as normal night lights around the sidewalks, so lighting will not be an issue.

The audience: People from all over the world want to attend this event, and since it is a public park attendance is free and will be first come, first serve. Those who do attend are asked to leave their children at home, there will be no trick or treating here. Afterall, this is a real, unscripted, violent fight to the death between two fictional characters who always follow a script. Since it is Halloween, attendees are encouraged to dress up as either Ranger Walker or Mr. Miyagi, to show who they support. Those attending are asked to remain quiet, but with stakes at the highest level, loud reactions seem inevitable.

Uniform: Both fighters will be in street clothes, Walker wearing brown cowboy boots, blue jeans, a black tucked in button down shirt under a light blue jean jacket, and a black cowboy hat. Miyagi in the classic workman tan collar shirt with the pockets in the front, long selves partly rolled up, tan pants, and black sneakers.

With a battle of this magnitude, we have to do a pregame analysis. Let's meet the contestants.

Ranger Walker: Born in Texas and raised in a Cherokee reservation, Walker witnessed both his parents being murdered when he was a child. Walker was then raised by his uncle, known as Uncle Ray. After seeing his parents killed, Walker decided to dedicate his life to fighting crime, studying martial arts, and helping at risk youth. He became a Texas Ranger and opened his own martial arts school. He married Alex Cahill, a lawyer he worked with for years.

Mr. Miyagi: Born in Okinawa, Miyagi was raised in a family that basically invented Karate. Miyagi's father was a fisherman and Miyagi himself once said "all Miyagi's know two things, fishing and Karate." He was trained by his father starting at a young age. He eventually moved to the USA where he suffered hardships when placed in the Japanese incarceration camps in the 1940s. Miyagi also suffered family tragedy when his wife and son passed away due to birth complications. Years later Miyagi found a family when he became the teacher and father figure to Daniel LaRusso, giving Daniel the Karate Gi that he has planned to give his own son.

Fighting styles:

Walker has a 9th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do. He also has a background in BJJ, Karate and kickboxing, He stared his own martial art called Chun Kuk Do, which combines all his MA techniques.

Miyagi does not hold rank; the way he was trained did not include belt tests or board breaking. He is trained in traditional Karate that emphasized you don't strike first because Karate is for defense only.

Fighting background:

Walker has fought some of the toughest and most dangerous criminals in America. He did this week after week for eight years in a row, then suddenly it all stopped. He has defeated martial arts champions, terrorists, trained hitman, and groups of drunks in a bar countless time He has a military background having served in the Marines. Walker is as tough as they come. He has been stabbed, shot, and blow up many times yet somehow, someway, was able to come out of it alive.

Miyagi has taken down stiff competition as well including many fighters in the Sekai Taikai where he once had to kill his opponent with his bare hands. I once saw him take down five Karate black belts by himself, including a two-time tournament champion, and later world champion, named Johnny Lawrence. I saw him defeat a Karate teacher without even thrown a strike. The other guy's knuckles were all bloody, it was amazing. Miyagi also has a military background, He was in the Army and fought in WW2, earing the Medal of Honor.

Analyzing the fighter's skills:

Walker is bigger, stronger, and younger. Also, we know Walker has trained with some of the top BJJ talent in the world, and made easy work of his partner, James Trivette, a former NFL player and college wrestling champion at Penn State, pinning Trivette four times in under a minute. Unlike Miyagi, Walker is often more than willing to strike first. The speed and power of his strikes are a serious threat to any opponent. Walker knows a lot of ways to win a fight: punching, kicking, choke holds, elbow locks, he is an expert at all of it making him a well-rounded threat.

Miyagi's striking and blocking are precise. He never misses his target, not even by a millimeter. His defense is unmatched. He fought John Kreese and Terry Silver, both who are bigger, stronger, and younger than Miyagi, both who have a military background, and both who are very well trained. Miyagi had three fights with them, two with Kreese, and neither fighter landed a single strike as Miyagi made them look foolish, then mocked them after winning. He did the same to Colonel Dugan years later. Even the most talented of martial arts instructors failed the break Miyagi's defensive shield. Those guys had many of the same advantages and moves Walker has, and they lost badly. Miyagi is not as fast as Walker, but he moves fast enough when necessary.

While Walker has the advantage if the fight goes to the ground, we know the fight will start on the feet. Miyagi will have an easier time landing strikes than Walker does, but if, and it is a big if, Walker is able to land one of those spinning kicks, he could have the power to KO Miyagi with a single strike. Miyagi has the ability to counter any strike Walker throws. Walker won't throw any attack that Miyagi has not already trained against, however Miyagi might have a trick up his sleeve with his "secret Miyagi pressure points" technique. If used, the technique could make Walker's limbs numb, thus immobile. The fight could go either way, and if they fought ten times, they might both win five, but this is a best of one.

Who do you think wins, Ranger Walker or Mr. Miyagi? The poll will close on the night of October 31. Please think it through carefully before voting, as this is the most important thing you will ever do, and remember to check back on Halloween night for the results.

If you have questions, please ask them prior to voting. Once the vote is cast there is no changing it.

It is time that the decades long debate be settled, and I can't think of anyone more qualified to decide it than the members of KarateForums.com.