Hawk fans probably wish they could forget a scene near the end of Cobra Kai’s second season. In a trophy case hallway, Eli Moskowitz, the young man who transformed himself with a mohawk and an attitude, pursues Demetri, his former best friend. It ought to be simple.
Hawk has been working out more, engaging in more combat, and winning more. Demetri may have practiced Miyagi-Do for two months. And yet. Hawk is sent sprawling after Demetri lands a block that stops him mid-lunge. The audience responds. Hawk appears astonished. And for a split second, Cobra Kai’s whole fighter-versus-thinker argument is turned upside down.
Since then, fan forums have debated that moment. Was it an anomaly? Was Hawk gassed after engaging in combat with every student at the school? Was Demetri always the superior fighter in secret? Because neither response is definitive, the debate continues.
Hawk is the more accomplished fighter; he has trained in several dojos, won the All Valley tournament, and defeated opponents who ought to have been on par with him thanks to his unadulterated aggression. Demetri, on the other hand, used defense-first tactics, Miyagi-Do fundamentals, and what can only be called a remarkably composed head under pressure to advance to the semifinals in his first tournament.
For a moment, it’s worth considering the physical analogy. Demetri may be the most pure Miyagi-Do practitioner on the show in terms of raw defensive technique, height, and reach. He genuinely adheres to the philosophy. He stays out of fights when he can, only gets involved when it’s absolutely necessary, and keeps his feelings out of them.
Hawk, on the other hand, is a versatile but occasionally volatile fighter who has trained under Johnny Lawrence, John Kreese, Daniel LaRusso, and Chozen—an almost ridiculous variety of influences. Few teenagers on the show can match Hawk when he’s locked in. Things usually go awry when he’s upset or overconfident.
However, since the fight stats only go so far, it’s worth pausing on the character comparison. One of the more genuinely intriguing storylines in the series is that of Hawk. In one quick, decisive moment, he transforms from a bullied, insecure child to a mohawked aggressor who ultimately chooses his friend over his dojo.
He famously intervenes to defend Demetri during a fight, ending his Cobra Kai chapter. It takes time to earn that kind of redemption. Before Hawk realized who he truly wanted to be, it seems like he had to burn a lot of things down. Demetri never experienced that issue. He was consistently self-deprecating and occasionally whiny, but he was always more or less himself than Hawk could ever hope to be.
The fight record isn’t what makes their rivalry truly captivating. It’s because they reflect two entirely distinct reactions to the same event. Two nerds from the same starting point, high school, and social pressure. One made the decision to change into an unrecognizable person. The other chose to remain true to himself and quietly improve. Fans likely return to the debate because it’s more fascinating to watch that tension unfold over several seasons than any one fight scene.
Who is superior, then? Put money on Hawk in a pure fight because he has more drive, experience, and range. There may be more going on than the scorecard indicates, though, given that Demetri advanced to the semifinals of his first All Valley, defeated Hawk once with little preparation, and avoided most of the mayhem that engulfed everyone around him. Demetri might be able to close that gap with the correct motivation. It’s another matter entirely if the show ever offered him the opportunity to find out.
