Cobra Kai: Under the Cobra Emblem

It was a pleasant autumn day—a season many cherished for its scenic beauty and opportunities to travel, though for others, it often meant tighter schedules.

At Cobra Kai, the official opening day had arrived. This meant that those who hadn't been training at the dojo while Max oversaw its development now had the chance to start.

Walking into the dojo, now extensively renovated, visitors were greeted by shelves lined with trophies commemorating Max's first-place wins in numerous tournaments. Of course, there were also awards for Johnny Lawrence, the sole karate sensei at the dojo, and Jean Roqua, who would be teaching mixed martial arts (MMA).

Max himself was a key figure in the dojo, leading a class that included disciplines beyond karate. Despite the primary focus on karate, the facilities had been expanded to accommodate all types of contact sports.

"Have you heard about the new MMA school opening up?" one boy asked Ryan, who was already training on the gym machines.

Since classes at Cobra Kai were held in the afternoon, people could arrive at their convenience. However, this wasn't an option for new students enrolling in the karate school that day.

Ryan removed his shoes at the entrance, furrowing his brow at the question. "What school just opened?"

"It's an MMA-only school, run by some guy named Franck Gastambide. He hasn't won any major competitions, though people say he's a good coach," said Isaac, who had joined Cobra Kai because of the diverse disciplines it offered. Isaac was particularly knowledgeable about MMA, as his dream was to make it into a major fight league.

Isaac understood how challenging it was to break into MMA and gain recognition. The news of a newMMA school nearby piqued his interest.

Still, Cobra Kai promised that talented students would find sponsors willing to take them abroad for competitions in various disciplines.

Liam, placing his shoes aside, commented, "It'll be tough for them to get good students. This place owes its reputation to the buzz Max created that night. Plus, the facilities we have here are hard to beat."

"That's not the point," Isaac interjected. "I looked into the All Valley tournament and found out that our school was really famous in the past. That means we have history, and not many can compete with us."

"Who cares about that?" Liam replied. "Karate in the Valley isn't what it used to be. It's even worse now, even though the tournaments have been running for years. MMA is the big thing now, and that's what Max had the foresight to include here."

Ryan nodded in agreement. "Besides, if that school just opened, it's unlikely they'll have what it takes to win a championship."

"The only downside here is the lack of pretty girls."

As the trio discussed the disciplines they'd focus on, they heard a charming voice behind them.

"What was that about girls?"

"Crap…"

"You idiots shouldn't have said that."

"Why blame me? It's not like there's some curse for talking about it.

They turned around to find Devon standing next to Max, smiling at them in an unnervingly friendly manner.

"Anything you'd like to share?"

"Did she hear us?" Isaac mouthed silently, glancing nervously at Max behind Devon.

Max smirked and said, "Oh, she heard you. You're screwed."

Breaking into a cold sweat, Isaac quickly stammered, "We were just talking about the new girls who'll be joining today!"

"You're too focused on that. What we need now is solid exposure to attract good students," Max replied, though he wasn't counting on Ryan, who was a complete mess.

It had taken significant effort to convince Jean Roqua, his martial arts instructor, to teach at Cobra Kai. The high-quality facilities ultimately won him over.

Most of Jean's students had transferred to Cobra Kai, now their primary sponsor for those aiming to compete in leagues like the UFC.

Leaving aside the new MMA school, the focus today was on karate. Johnny would be teaching, and Max was about to lead his first class as a student leader.

Students under twenty years old who had never trained in karate were eligible for this class.

"Follow the rules, stay disciplined, and there's nothing Cobra Kai can't offer you," Max declared.

Max's influence in martial arts was so significant that his reputation alone could open doors to high-level competitions.

For this reason, Johnny and Jean had agreed to be exceptionally strict with students who were serious about excelling and making a career in martial arts.