Tanner Buchanan isn't just another face in the Miyagi-verse. He’s the emotional glue. Honestly, if you look at the trajectory of Cobra Kai since it kicked off back in 2018, Buchanan’s Robby Keene has shouldered the most brutal character arc in the entire franchise.
Most people focus on the Johnny vs. Daniel rivalry. It’s the hook, sure. But the real meat of the story? It’s the kid who had every reason to be a villain but kept trying to find a way toward the light.
The Ohio Kid with a Black Belt Pedigree
It’s easy to assume every actor in a martial arts show is just faking it until the stunt double steps in. Not this guy. Tanner Buchanan actually grew up in Lima, Ohio, and he wasn’t just sitting around watching movies. His mother is a black belt. That’s a real-life detail that doesn't get enough play. By the time he was a kid, he was already training in Taekwondo.
Before he ever touched a gi on the Netflix set, he was a competitive dancer. We’re talking national tap dance championships. You can see it in his footwork. If you watch Robby’s fights closely, there’s a fluidity that the other cast members sometimes struggle to match. He’s basically a high-level athlete masquerading as an actor.
He didn't just stumble into Cobra Kai either. He’d been working for years. Remember Designated Survivor? He played Leo Kirkman. It was a solid role, but it didn’t let him jump-kick anyone in the face.
Why Robby Keene Broke Our Hearts
Robby is the most "Karate Kid" character in the show. Think about it. Daniel LaRusso was a kid with no father figure who found a mentor. Robby is a kid with a father who actively chose a different "son" (Miguel) over him. That’s heavy.
Tanner has talked in interviews about how he views Robby as a kid who is constantly being "screwed over." It’s a cynical way to look at it, but he’s not wrong. Every time Robby finds a home, it gets snatched away.
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- He finds a father figure in Daniel.
- Then he accidentally injures Miguel.
- He goes to juvie.
- Daniel turns him in to the police (even if it was for his own good).
When he finally joined the "dark side" and teamed up with Kreese and Silver, it felt earned. It wasn't just a plot twist. It was a reaction to trauma. Tanner plays that vulnerability so well because he doesn’t play Robby as a "bad guy." He plays him as a hurt kid.
The 95 Percent Rule
Here is a fact that might shock the casual viewer: Tanner Buchanan performs roughly 95% of his own stunts. That is insane for a show with this much choreography. While filming Designated Survivor in Toronto, he actually took up Muay Thai just to stay sharp.
He’s a perfectionist. During the filming of Season 6—which wrapped up the main series in early 2025—the training reached a fever pitch. In the Barcelona episodes, where the dojos head to the Sekai Taikai, the physical demand was grueling.
Interestingly, Tanner has been pretty open about the mental toll, too. He’s mentioned feeling the pressure of "Hollywood body standards." It’s a refreshingly honest take from someone who looks like they spend ten hours a day in a dojo. He’s human. He gets insecure just like the rest of us.
Life After the Valley: What’s Next for Tanner?
With Cobra Kai officially concluding its 15-episode final season in February 2025, everyone is asking: what’s next?
Tanner isn’t pivoting away from the dark stuff. He’s leaning into horror. He’s set to star in Hide and Don't Speak, a supernatural flick about a deadly Japanese game of hide-and-seek. It’s a far cry from the All Valley Tournament, but his physical background will probably come in handy when he's running for his life from vengeful spirits.
He’s also been spotted staying in "fighting shape" through things like STRONG Nation workouts. Even though the show is over, the martial arts lifestyle seems to have stuck.
The Karate Kid Legacy and That May 2026 Movie
There is a lot of chatter about Karate Kid: Legends, the movie coming out in May 2026 starring Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan. While the film focuses on a new lead (played by Ben Wang), fans are desperate to see if Buchanan makes a cameo.
The "Miyagi-verse" is expanding, and it’s hard to imagine it without Robby Keene. Whether or not he shows up on the big screen, Tanner Buchanan has already cemented his place. He took a character that could have been a one-dimensional "bad son" and turned him into the most complex person in the franchise.
If you want to follow in Tanner's footsteps or just appreciate the craft, here is what you should actually do:
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- Watch the behind-the-scenes "Behind the Fights" featurettes. You’ll see the actual sweat and the dance-like precision Tanner brings to the stunts.
- Look for his earlier work in "Girl Meets World" or "The Fosters." It’s wild to see how much he’s matured as a performer.
- Pay attention to the footwork in Season 6. Seriously. His background in tap dance is his secret weapon for those spinning kicks.
Robby Keene might have started as the "bad boy," but Tanner Buchanan made him the heart of the show. He proved that redemption isn't a straight line—it’s a fight.