'''[[Intelligence]]:''' '''Average''' academically, '''Gifted''' combatively ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiFxNjMf5Bc Defeated two-time All Valley champion], [[Johnny Lawrence]], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuluCUyHNNM after only a few months of training]<ref>The Karate Kid (1984)</ref>. Soon after, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_dM5Ymv5RE he fought and defeated] [[Chozen Toguchi]], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xqmmLQNvKc who mentored a group of black belt military soldiers]<ref>The Karate Kid Part II (1986)</ref>. [https://youtu.be/MgxGDlLde4o?t=34 Could easily defeat] [[Dennis de Guzman]], [https://youtu.be/y7N4mY_1vWI?t=66 who was specifically hired to] [https://youtu.be/cXjrHFW3hfg?t=56 train the country-renowned "tournament terror"], [[Mike Barnes]]<ref>The Karate Kid Part III (1989)</ref>. Daniel is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ffMsuLBxMY skilled enough to fight and defeat an entire hockey team at once]<ref>Cobra Kai season 4</ref>, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7pJdRUo2yc as well as a group of thugs who could physically overpower him]<ref>Cobra Kai season 2</ref>)
No you don't want to hear the truth. All you want to hear about is how great it is. Well it may be great for you but it SUCKS for me! I hate this place! I HATE IT! I just want to go home. Why can't we just go home?
„
~ Daniel to Lucille LaRusso
“
You know... When MY father died, I spent a lot of time thinking I hadn't been such a great son. It seemed to me like I could have listened a little more, spent a little more time with him together... I felt so guilty, you know, like he did everything for me and I didn't do anything for him. Then one day I realized... that I did the greatest thing I ever did for him before he died: I was there with him... and I held his hand... and said goodbye.
I'm sorry if you don't like it but I've got problems, okay, and if you're not going to be part of the solution, just don't give me a hard time about it!
Oh, Johnny Lawrence calling someone else an asshole, that's rich, man...
„
~ Daniel LaRusso
“
Hey, Mr. Miyagi... I know it's been a few months, but, better late than never, right? I've been thinking about you a lot lately... I, um... It's funny, when I was a kid you seemed to always have all the answers, y'know, I guess I thought when I got older I'd have it all figured out too. But now, I just... feel like I'm clueless. Makes me wonder, was it different for you, or were you just better at hiding it?
„
~ Daniel LaRusso
“
You figure, with two people you have twice the defense, right? Wrong. One of the cornerstones of Miyagi-Do Karate is always moving in a circle. And with the wheel technique, you'll soon see that two people can be as strong as twenty. Now, are you ready?
This is where I almost lost to fear. It was during my second tournament, I didn't even need to fight in the preliminary rounds, so I was fresh! I thought I was ready. But in the final match... my opponent was ruthless. Before I knew it, I was on that mat and fear had completely taken over. I was paralyzed, I couldn't move. The thought of getting up again and facing that guy just... scared the living daylights outta me. I just wanted to run off and hide...
„
~ Daniel LaRusso recounting his fight with Mike Barnes
“
Now I'm supposed to give up my dojo and step down as a sensei... There's too much at stake to honor an agreement made with men who have none. If Cobra Kai is gonna to keep growing and getting stronger, I need to do whatever it takes to stop them. Even if that means going on offense.
„
~ Daniel LaRusso
“
Why? To get back at your dad? Me? Miyagi-Do? Sam? The world? Because if that's the case, I have another Miyagi-Do secret that you can slip to your friends. Never put passion over principle, because even if you win, you lose.
Age: 16 - 17 years old (The Karate Kid), 17 years old (The Karate Kid Part II), 17 - 18 years old (The Karate Kid Part III), 51 - 53 years old (Cobra Kai)
Occupation: Mr. Miyagi's Little Trees co-owner (formerly), Miyagi-Do Karate student (formerly), Cobra Kai student (formerly), LaRusso Auto Group owner, Miyagi-do Karate sensei
Though Miyagi-verse characters are expert martial artists, this is because of their nigh-supernatural skill and rate of growth, not their actual power input. Generally, they are only above average in strength, carried by their technique. For instance, Tory Nichols, one of the stronger characters of the series, breaks her hand punching through solid stone[43].