SrCuervo

When I was young, I was diagnosed with an eye condition that dimmed the vibrant colors of the world around me.

Many years later, after a surgery restored the vision I had lost, something happened that changed my life forever.

From that day on, I immersed myself in training, learning all kinds of martial arts.

Years later, when it seemed I couldn’t find my light, many friendships began to change my life.

Cobra Kai: Under the Cobra Emblem

"We are the champions, my friends."

"And we'll keep fighting till the end, no matter who we face."

"We are the champions because we've made it here, where few have succeeded."

"We are the champions, don't forget it."

"It's not time for losers."

"We are Cobra Kai," said Ryan, delivering a motivational speech to the team.

Before the matches began, the organizers invited five local bands from Los Angeles to perform on stage, setting the mood for the tournament that would unfold over the following days.

The venue was packed with over four thousand spectators who enjoyed the opening of the All Valley Tournament.

After the opening band's performance ended, the competition began immediately.

"One of these dojos will be crowned the new champion today. Welcome to the 50th All Valley Tournament, the first annual under-twelve category. Enjoy the tournament!"

The final competition was divided into two categories.

The first category was the qualifying competition, where the top twenty fighters from each school competed to determine who would advance to the finals.

The ranking system was relatively straightforward. There were four divisions, each with five members from every school. The first place in each division would face the second-place winners from the other divisions.

Each competitor only had one chance to fight; a single loss meant elimination.

Victories earned competitors points, with clearer wins yielding higher scores. This added extra excitement to the initial rounds, where strong matchups were anticipated.

Max's first opponent in the qualifiers was Eli Morales, an experienced fighter from Topanga Karate.

Despite sharing the same name as another notable fighter, this Eli was different in appearance, build, and temperament.

This Eli was a tall, muscular black teenager with dreadlocks. His powerful chest and arm muscles stood out, complemented by his broad waist.

Eli was known as a power fighter, boasting strong punches, a sturdy body, and excellent resilience to strikes. These traits had led him to dominate several local tournaments, making him a formidable challenge.

However, his flaws included short arms, inflexible movements, and somewhat crude techniques.

From Max's perspective, Eli's weaknesses were exploitable, but the real challenge was taking down someone so strong and durable.

"Hey, kid, is it true you're planning to knock us all out? Your coach Georges has a lot of faith in you. But I'm good at knockouts too. Let's see today who knocks out whom first," Eli taunted, pounding his fists against his massive chest muscles.

Too strong, Max thought as he sized up the eighteen-year-old.

When the match began, Max relied on his superior speed to land rapid punches to Eli's head, striking continuously.

Unlike standard karate tournaments, these fights were much longer and continued until one competitor showed clear signs of pain.

What shocked Max in the first round was that despite landing several solid hits, Eli Morales remained upright, standing firm like an iron tower.

In the second round, after earning the first point, Max and Morales abandoned defense and began trading direct blows.

The match was intense, with the crowd cheering and applauding nonstop.

"Does that guy look thirty to anyone else?" Johnny growled in frustration as he watched Max battle evenly with his opponent.

Terry, observing Max's calm demeanor, remarked, "He's putting on an impressive fight. He can't just rush for points against such a strong opponent; it would be risky."

"Yeah, but that doesn't change the fact that he's up against a former convict," Johnny muttered, pointing at Max's opponent, who was now visibly struggling.

Max ended the match with a spinning kick to Eli's head, sending him to the floor.

Having won his first match in the qualifiers, Max returned to his group, greeting everyone with a confident nod.

The Competition Begins