The Japanese Miyagi (Noriyuki, Pat Morita) born in Okinawa teaches his martial arts and to combat at a Zen temple along with some sympathetic monks. Meanwhile, Julie falls in love with a youngster (Chris Conrad). This enjoyable movie, a sort of junior version of 'Rocky', develops a sincere and deep friendship between two protagonists, the rookie young girl and the wise old man. Using more than his fists, Julie learns about herself and the sense of life.
Agreeable and likable acting by main actors: Pat Morita and Hilary Swank. Furthermore, it appears as secondaries, the ordinary baddie: Michael Ironside, and the veteran Constance Towers who formerly worked in various films directed by John Ford. The picture contains adequate cinematography by Laszlo Kovacs and long-standing musical score, though with some disco-music, by Bill Conti, trilogy's usual.