Daniel Kata Barnes

	"On guard. Continue."

	Mike lunged, something he'd done a lot of. This time, however, Daniel didn't retreat, he side-stepped. Mike flew past him out of the ring. There were laughs from the crowd.

	"Out of bounds."

	Mike returned and they started again. Mike charged again, flailing at Daniel with punches. The sidestep had worked so well Daniel tried it again. It worked again. The crowd laughed some more.

		Once again, they began circling. Mr. Miyagi's words came back to Daniel. Go ju, hard and soft. Soft karate was based on speed and precision. Hard karate was power and strength. Everything Mike Barnes did was hard karate. He did it well, but it was his only tool. When Daniel tried to fight hard with hard, he lost points. When he used soft karate, sidesteps, ducks, rolls, he made points.

	They faced each other for their one-point match. Everything Daniel believed in about karate was on the line now. He had to do it; he could do it. Suddenly Daniel was flooded with confidence, and it was a wonderful feeling. Now he was ready for the kata.

	He began the first movement and as soon as he did it, he knew he was home. The deliberate and careful actions of the kata confused Mike. He didn't know what to do as Daniel proceeded confidently.

	He tried to find an opening, but even though Daniel was moving slowly, he was moving so surely that Mike was confounded. Daniel stepped forward, Mike shifted back. Daniel spun, Mike looked around in confusion.

	"Kill him! Kill him!" was the advice Mike got from his trainers. He lunged at Daniel. At that precise moment, Daniel raised his right arm, easily deflecting Mike's punch and, still following the strict regimen of his kata, finished off his opponent with a perfect roundhouse kick. He twisted around and flipped Mike onto his back. The stunned opponent looked up at the ceiling, speechless.

	"Point!" the referee shouted, the happiness apparent in his voice. "Winner! Champion!" He lifted Daniel's hand in victory and the crowd, if possible, began cheering even louder.

- The Karate Kid Part III (1989) Chapter 24