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| “ | I know Americans. Coddled, arrogant, privileged. You have no idea what it is like to sacrifice, what it's like to go hungry. Even for one meal. Everything in your life is empty calories. Then maybe it's true. You are what you eat. | „ |
| ~ Wolf's prejudice towards Johnny Lawrence. |
| “ | John Lawrence. One of us is about to have a lot more fun than the other. | „ |
| ~ Wolf before fighting Johnny Lawrence. |
Feng Xiao, better known as Sensei Wolf, is one of the two secondary antagonists (alongside Kwon Jae-Sung) in Season 6 of the 2018 YouTube Red/Netflix series Cobra Kai. He also serves as the final antagonist of the series.
He is the abusive and ruthless sensei of the Iron Dragons that secretly worked for the dojo's benefactor, Terry Silver, and quickly developed a rivalry with Miyagi-Do sensei Johnny Lawrence, becoming his arch-rival.
He is portrayed by Lewis Tan.
His Evil Ranking[]
His Villainous Deeds[]
In General/Background[]
- Unlike Kreese, who displays genuine care for Kim Da-Eun and his students, and Silver, whose Vietnam War trauma and insecurities occasionally earn him sympathy, Wolf has almost no redeeming qualities beyond a brief bow of respect to Johnny Lawrence. After Kreese and Silver died in the penultimate episode, he becomes the show’s ultimate and final villain.
- While he has some comedic moments—such as taking the last two steaks at a buffet (sparking his rivalry with Johnny), witty banter, knocking out a referee during the Sekai Taikai brawl, or boasting he’d “get a good workout” before fighting Johnny and Daniel—these do not detract from his brutality as he is still a formidable threat and taken seriously in-universe.
- His partnership with Silver is based on mutual benefit, necessity, ambition, and power—not loyalty or friendship. The flashback reveals that both men are at personal low points three months before the Sekai Taikai: Silver seeks revenge on Daniel, Johnny, Chozen, and Kreese (Kim Da-Eun to a lesser extent, though she withdrew after the tragedy with Kwon), aiming to globally humiliate Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai. Wolf is driven by financial desperation, ambition, and the desire to regain his dojo’s former glory.
- Despite losing ownership of his dojo due to debt, forcing him to fight in cage matches in Bangkok for money—and implying he has endured hardship and struggle, as he tells Johnny that he “doesn’t know what sacrifice is like”—this is rarely explored and isn’t played for sympathy. His actions far surpass this and have little to do with it. Though he lost his dojo before meeting Silver, Silver notes that he “got into bed with the wrong people,” confirming that his financial issues were self-inflicted.
- It is implied that he murdered his opponent in a cage fight using the Shaolin Sunset—a banned and illegal technique—leaving the victim seizing on the ground in pain, with blood coming from his mouth. He even tells Silver that he only used “three-quarters speed,” further proving his ruthlessness predated his alliance with Silver.
- He has no regard for his students or allies. He is physically and emotionally abusive to Axel—so much so that Axel is left with visible bruises on his back. Wolf reveals that he has trained Axel “since he could walk.” While he does not mistreat Zara, this is likely pragmatic, given her social media influence and ability to expose him, rather than genuine care. He also broke one of his male students’ arms in a training session to prove a point. Although unaware that Silver and Dennis had died before his tiebreaker match with Johnny—despite inquiring about Silver from two of his dojo members—he quickly moved on, showing he only cares about himself.
- It is inaccurate to say that he is manipulated or influenced by Silver; despite being his business partner and right-hand, Wolf is not a pawn and has his own agency. In the flashback, though he asks Silver about the catch and whether he's his friend, he accepts his proposal to regain his status. While Silver is the Iron Dragons' benefactor/manager, Wolf is their sensei—both before and after the alliance is revealed—and most of his actions are of his own volition rather than ordered.
- While Silver has more resources and corrupting influence and Kim Sun-Yung has a dark legacy, Wolf stands out for being a former three-time Sekai Taikai champion, his command over the Iron Dragons, combat skill and strategy, and having Silver’s financial backing and the dangerous Shaolin Sunset technique.
Cobra Kai[]
Season 6[]
- Takes the last 2 steaks at the sensei sponsor event buffet before the Sekai Taikai.While this isn't malicious, it was still selfish and when Johnny confronted him about it, he used the excuse one was for a friend and goes further stating even if weren't he's "entitled" to enjoy as many pieces as he likes. Though he wasn't wrong given the buffet setting, he still said in a condescending and dismissive tone.
- After his top students, Axel and Zara defeated Tory, Kwon and Yoon in the Captain's War event, he smugly smirked at Johnny.
- During his second encounter with Johnny at the buffet before the platform event, although he claims to known Americans he insults them by calling them coddled, arrogant and privileged, telling Johnny he has no idea what it's like to sacrifice or go hungry "even for one meal" and that everything in Johnny's life is "empty calories". Though he calls Americans arrogant it's hypocritical given he and his top female student Zara also embody this as Zara has an inflated ego and high opinion of herself, while Wolf is elitist in nature.
- Taunts Johnny by predicting Miyagi Do's elimination saying that it's good news his dojo won't be around much longer to "waste everyone's time". When Johnny promises to prove Wolf wrong stating that his team will show Wolf a thing or two about where they're from, he dismissively responds "I won't hold my breath".
- Physically abuses and berates Axel for not protecting his left side in training. Though he asked him what he was doing wrong and hit him with the sparring glove when he didn't respond, he makes him redo it. When Axel doesn't adapt the second time, Wolf throws down the sparring glove and punches him repeatedly in frustration, which is an overreaction. This is witnessed by Sam, Daniel LaRusso's daughter who's visibly unnerved by it. He then angrily tells Axel that the latter is "wasting his time" and demands him to focus.
- Smirks and waves at Johnny after Johnny ordered the Miyagi-Do team to the locker room after their performance in the first platform event lands them near-bottom of the ranking despite Miguel's victory, taking pleasure in their misfortunes. His earlier comments would’ve been proven correct if Johnny and the Miyagi Dos hadn’t adapted their strategy in the second platform event which saved them from elimination (despite Daniel’s absence).
- It's later revealed that he played a role in kidnapping since he and Silver set a trap for Daniel by anonymously sending Daniel "information" on Miyagi and providing a secret location to get the information which led to Daniel being abducted and locked in a dog cage. He also praises Dennis for doing a good job and adds he got them "running scared"-especially since Daniel and Chozen believed Kreese or Kim Da-Eun were responsible. When the four confronted Wolf and Dennis, and Daniel asks why Wolf would have him kidnapped, he doesn't confirm or deny it showing a lack of remorse even after Silver reveals himself as the true mastermind.
- When Kreese confronts and punches Silver for supposedly stealing his eunjangdo knife (while it was actually the Miyagi-Do sensei’s who did to it mess with their enemies’ minds), Wolf keeps him from attacking telling him "Easy, easy". Though it shows loyalty to Silver, it doesn't make him protective or honorable as he was doing that to maintain professionalism and prevent his dojo from being suspended or disqualified.
- In the semifinals, when noticing Axel hasn't scored a point against Robby yet, he orders him in Chinese to attack him which Axel obeys and gains the upper hand-scoring five points and punching Robby in the face so hard he spat blood.
- After Kwon cheap shots Robby-by elbowing him in the ribs after Axel shoves the latter into the Cobra Kai area, Wolf doesn't intervene when his students confront Miyagi Do, who ganged up on Axel after he attacked Miguel, who tried to defend Robby.
- While Tiger Strike (the Russian dojo) were responsible for starting the all-out brawl at the Sekai Taikai out of anger due to their disqualification for using performance enhancing drugs and despite watching/standing by, he doesn't bother stopping his students fighting other competitors and eventually chose to engage in it.
- When the referee tries to reason with him, he elbows him in the face, knocking him unconscious showing no remorse for assaulting a tournament official.
- Targets Johnny for no other reason besides their negative encounters at the buffet and pure sadism, calls out his name and gleefully states one of them is “about to have a lot more fun than the other”. When Johnny calls him an asshole and says he’s had enough fun for the day, Wolf kicks him in the face and mockingly calls him sensei while challenging him.After attacking Johnny, he grins sadistically.
- Overpowers Johnny with little effort and likely would’ve severely injured him if Daniel hadn’t intervened.
- Before fighting them simultaneously he quips that he “might get a good workout” before viciously dominating them.
- When fighting Daniel alone, he clearly had the upper hand after headbutting him and was about to go further until two other senseis separated them.
- Though he likely would've been horrified by Kwon's death, it's unknown how he reacted to it since he was absent when the latter died at the end of the brawl.
- After the Sekai Taikai resumes in the Valley, before Robby and Axel have their semifinals rematch, when Silver says they should win easily due to having the best fighters despite Daniel and Johnny choosing the venue and ref-and that Wolf knows what to do if the match is close, he confidently assures him he has nothing to worry about,
- Scolds Axel for looking at Sam (who Axel has feelings for) instead of Robby ordering him to keep his eyes on his opponent.
- Tells Axel that the Miyagi Do students are scared of him because of the incident in Barcelona and that he should make Robby "fear for his life"
- After the first round of Axel vs. Robby, Wolf questions Axel for smiling and slaps him when he tries to explain, expressing disappointment that Axel allowed Robby to score—a feat no one managed against Axel in Barcelona. While this could be seen as pushing Axel not to underestimate Robby, it is still harsh and contrasts with Silver, who applauded Axel’s performance since he was ahead of Robby.
- When Robby catches up in the second round and Axel comments on Robby’s speed and adaptability, Wolf dismisses it as excuses and calls Axel’s performance pathetic.
- With Silver’s approval, Wolf instructs Axel to break Robby’s leg in the final round. When Axel questions this, Wolf insists, promising victory. Axel complies, severely injuring Robby by twisting his leg during a kick attempt, and avoids disqualification due to the referee missing the foul. This leads to Miyagi-Do’s elimination when Sam refuses to fight Tory.
- After Axel’s win, Wolf pats him on the back, and he, Silver, and Zara applaud as the Iron Dragons are poised to win the Sekai Taikai by default. They would've been successful if Johnny hadn't reclaimed Cobra Kai with Kreese's approval and Miguel and Tory weren't captains.
- Although he remembered they were representing Miyagi Do in Barcelona and was unaware of their past dojo ties, Wolf is shocked and outraged when Johnny and Miguel return to Cobra Kai, protesting to Silver that it’s “bullshit,” despite the Iron Dragons nearly winning by cheating.
- After Silver vents about Johnny and Daniel reclaiming Cobra Kai, Wolf arrogantly insists the title is still theirs and ominously states that losing should be the least of their concerns.
- During a sparring session, Wolf notices Axel holding back and stops the match. He then viciously breaks Wing’s arm in front of the entire dojo to prove a point, declaring that there is no way except winning and tells Axel the Sekai Taikai finals is a fight not a sport and that he shouldn't give his opponents a choice if they refused to accept defeat. He also slaps Axel for being distracted since the latter was looking at Zara for help and demands Axel's attention.
- Wolf and Silver warn Axel not to hold back out of empathy or concern for Sam’s opinion, manipulating his feelings to keep him focused on victory. Wolf disparages Sam for “disgracing” Miyagi-Do by refusing to fight Tory and questions Axel’s priorities, stating that if Sam means more to him than victory, he’s already lost.
- Wolf instructs his students not to "seek the approval of the weak" and sternly tells Axel that if Miguel or anyone else doesn’t fear him, he should make them.
- Before Zara fights Tory in the girls’ final, Wolf tells Zara that Tory cannot "match her speed or skill." Initially, he is proven right: Zara, undefeated in Barcelona, dominates Tory in the first round, rattling her with psychological warfare and mind games. However, Tory regains her confidence in the second round, adapts her strategy, and defeats Zara by knockout, winning the Sekai Taikai girls’ championship and knocking out several of Zara’s teeth.
- Before Axel’s match with Miguel, Wolf reminds Axel that no matter what gi he wears, he was still trained in Miyagi-Do, and arrogantly claims that after what Axel did to Robby, Miguel will “be on the defense.” Wolf menacingly adds that there is “no defense" for what Axel will do to Miguel. However, Wolf is visibly shocked when Miguel adapts his fighting style, winning the first round by 5 points.
- Following Silver’s order to get Axel refocused, Wolf harshly reprimands Axel, reminding him he’s been trained since he could walk. He criticizes Axel for ineffective fighting and calls Miguel a “weak nobody from a nothing dojo,” more out of frustration than genuine belief. Wolf threatens Axel, saying if he wastes this opportunity, everything Wolf gave him will be for nothing, and warns that if Miguel wins, Axel will be “less than nothing.” Axel responds by winning the second round and landing a brutal knockdown on Miguel.
- For the third and final round, while Silver tells Axel to end the match definitively, Wolf orders Axel to cripple Miguel by targeting his previously injured spine, fully aware of the risks. When Axel protests, Wolf sharply cuts him off, showing no regard for Axel’s opinion or Miguel’s safety. If successful, this attack could have permanently paralyzed or even killed Miguel, ending his karate career.
- After Miguel defeats Axel and wins the boys championship, Wolf berates the latter for his loss telling him that he is "ashamed" to be his sensei though Axel finally stands up to him stating he's ashamed to be his student and never has to feel the shame again. When Axel tries to leave, Wolf physically grabs his shoulder and is bewildered when Axel leaves.
- When the Sekai Taikai ends in a tie, it was revealed he and Johnny needed to fight each over. After Silver advises him that this is his last chance to win the tournament and not to blow it, Wolf smirks, arrogantly declaring he won't.
- Before the tiebreaker match, Wolf attempts to psych out Johnny by reminding him that everyone he knows is watching the fight. While feigning admiration for Johnny’s confidence, Wolf vows to deliver a humiliating defeat. He escalates his taunts by bringing up Johnny’s family, saying they’ll have to console him and “hold his hand when he is carried out on a stretcher.” Wolf cruelly references Johnny’s past All Valley loss to Daniel, saying he “knows what it’s like on the other side,” and emphasizes that, with the cameras and global coverage, Johnny’s family and friends—including his infant daughter—will never forget his defeat. He even goes so far as to say Johnny’s daughter will be bullied at school and called a loser, just like her father.
- When Johnny attacks him, Wolf nearly breaks his arm and states he could break him immediately but pragmatically decides to "save it for the cameras". He then throws Johnny into the lockers and mocks his lack of confidence before leaving.
- During the tiebreaker, Wolf briefly asks two of his dojo members about Silver’s whereabouts, unaware of his death. After receiving no response, he quickly moves on and shows no concern for the absence of Axel and Zara either.
- At the start of his fight with Johnny, Wolf smirks evilly while bowing to him.
- In the first round, Wolf repeatedly taunts Johnny while effortlessly dodging and countering his attacks, sadistically laughing before scoring the first point.
- Afterward, he lunges at Johnny, smirks, and calls him "old man" before kicking him in the back of the head. When called out for illegal contact, Wolf dismisses it as his own mistake.
- In the second round, Wolf elbows Johnny in the face, breaking his nose. When warned that a point deduction will follow if it happens again, he sarcastically promises to be more careful.
- Later in the second round, Wolf viciously knees Johnny in the side/ribs after leading 2-1, but still receives no point deduction.
- His constant illegal moves and dirty tricks shock and outrage the crowd.
- As Chozen told Daniel, Wolf wasn't just aiming to win, he wanted to obliterate Johnny.
- When he and Johnny are tied 2-2 in the final round, he attempts to use the Shaolin Sunset on Johnny to end the match definitively.If he succeeded this would have severely maimed or possibly killed Johnny in front of the Valley and a global audience.
- After his defeat, he bows to Johnny in a brief gesture of respect, finally acknowledging Johnny’s skill despite being disappointed by the loss. While genuine, it can be seen as professional and pragmatic to maintain his reputation and doesn't redeem him given his past actions. He then angrily pushes past his co senseis, an act driven more by frustration than malice.
- Overall, he nearly succeeded in winning the Sekai Taikai three times and is of the few major antagonists whose unredeemed at the end of the series .
- His fate is unknown, with no information about his dojo or reputation after the Sekai Taikai. He ultimately gets away with his crimes and is absent from the series finale's epilogue.
Why He Doesn't Stand Out?[]
- While he passes the baseline due to his alliance with Silver, being a three-time world champion leading an elite dojo, his cruel treatment of Axel, and ordering him to cripple Miguel a second time(risking paralysis or death),his lethal technique and his personal villainy towards Johnny and Daniel, he fails the heinous standards to Silver himself and Kim Sun-Yung. Silver had more personal villainy towards Johnny and Daniel as his actions harmed them and their loved ones more severely. He also has more resources, briefly took over the Valley and Cobra Kai, franchising and later attempting globalise the dojo. Despite less resources, Kim Sun-Yung is a generational corrupting influence who is the source of Cobra Kai's brutality and shaped Kreese, Silver, Kim Da-Eun and Captain Turner. He also abused his own granddaughter, taught his students to kill and turned Kwon into a deadly villain.
- He bows to Johnny in respect after losing the final match of the Sekai Taikai, showing a brief moment of dignity. However, given their rivalry, his past actions and lack of redeeming traits prior, this is a minor prevention.
Trivia[]
- Sensei Wolf is the final antagonist of the Cobra Kai series, assuming this role after Kreese and Silver’s deaths in the penultimate episode
- One of Sensei Wolf’s listed crimes is child abuse. But as the Sekai Taikai has no known age limit for its competitors, it is unknown how old Axel is, and he may not be considered a child in the eyes of the law. So this crime may not be accurate. However, in part 3 of season 6, it is revealed the Sekai Taikai is only for competitors below the age of 18 similar to the All Valley tournament. So this crime is in fact child abuse as Axel is under 18 and is still a minor. He also broke another one of his student’s arms to teach Axel a lesson.
- According to Showrunner Hayden Schlossberg;
- When Wolf performed the Shaolin Sunset in the final tiebreaker match of the Sekai Taikai, he did so with the intention of killing (or at least badly maiming) Johnny. If he succeeded in using, it would have made him even worse.
- Sensei Wolf, Yoon Do-Jin, and Zara Malik are the only Villainous Benchmarks in the Karate Kid franchise to remain alive at the end of Cobra Kai. By contrast, Kreese, Silver, Captain Turner, Master Kim, Kwon, and Dennis are all confirmed dead by the series' conclusion.
External links[]
- Sensei Wolf on the Karate Kid Wiki
- Sensei Wolf on the Villains Wiki
[]
 Villainous Benchmarks
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 Villainous Benchmarks
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[[Category:Masterminds]