Who was Pat E. Johnson?
Although in the Karate Kid films Pat E Johnson stood out as the iconic referee who signaled Daniel Larusso’s triumph (Ralph Macchio), in the first and third parts of the film he was also the martial artist behind the fight choreographies.
Pat E. Johnson was the fight choreographer on The Karate Kid. (YouTube)
He was born in Niagara Falls, New York in 1939. He held a 9th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and was also president of the National Tang Soo Do Congress, founded by Chuck Norris in 1973.
He also appeared in films and series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mortal Kombat as well as Enter the Dragon (1973), To Live and Die in LA (1985) and Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991). , Batman and Robin (1997) and Wild Wild West (1999).
Ralph Macchio’s farewell message to Pat E. Johnson. (Instagram)
Between 1970 and 1980 he worked as a stunt coordinator in films, including as Chuck Norris, Jackie Chan And Jim Kellyas well as Steve McQueen, Ralph Macchio and William Zabka. The latter two sent him warm farewell messages on their social networks.
William Zabka’s farewell to Pat E. Johnson. (Instagram)