Darryl Vidal

Darryl Vidal is a 10th-degree black belt (Ju Dan) and Grandmaster of Chinese Kenpo Karate, with over 40 years of martial arts experience. He has trained and promoted 37 black belts and continues to teach and mentor students today.

Darryl's lifelong dedication to martial arts led to being discovered at a Karate tournament by Academy Award-winning film director John G. Avildsen (Rocky, Karate Kid, Lean on Me). The encounter would lead to one of the most iconic moments in cinematic history.

Darryl was cast in the 1984 classic motion picture The Karate Kid and was initially brought on to add authenticity to the pivotal tournament scenes in the film's climax. During production, Darryl was tasked with creating a signature kick that would be shared between the character of Mr. Miyagi and his student Daniel LaRusso- the result was the infamous Crane Kick. Darryl would also serve as Pat Morita's stunt double for the pivotal Crane Kick scenes and played integral parts in the final tournament scenes of the film.

In 2025, Darryl reprised his role as the All-Valley martial arts legend in Cobra Kai Season 6, where his character is now the Center Referee for the Sekai Taikai tournament.

Beyond his martial arts career, Darryl is an accomplished writer and publisher. He has authored works across multiple genres, including nonfiction books on educational technology, biographies, and fiction.

His newest book, The Crane and the Grandmaster, blends his personal journey with the wisdom of a lifelong martial artist. It offers insight into the discipline of martial arts, the cinematic legacy of The Karate Kid, and his contribution to pop culture.

Darryl's work has been featured in martial arts publications, and he has spoken at seminars and events about the influence of traditional martial arts in modern training.

Whether writing about martial arts, education, or storytelling, he continues to share his knowledge and experiences, ensuring that the lessons of the past remain relevant to new generations of readers.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Management and a Master’s Degree (MA Ed) in Education - Instructional Technology.