Pat E. Johnson obit

Pat E. Johnson, ‘Karate Kid’ Choreographer, Trainer and Referee, Dies at 84

An instructor at a Chuck Norris school, he left a lasting impression on his students: “It’s amazing how his teaching has stayed with me all these years,” actor William Zabka said. 

He was not on the list.

Pat E. Johnson, the ninth-degree black belt and Chuck Norris contemporary who choreographed the fight scenes, trained the actors and portrayed a tournament referee in the first three Karate Kid films, has died. He was 84.

Johnson died Sunday of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, his niece, Colleen Mary Johnson Summerville, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Johnson also was a stuntperson, stunt coordinator, trainer and/or fight coordinator on Buffy the Vampire Slayer; on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Mortal Kombat movies; and on other films including Enter the Dragon (1973), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991), Batman and Robin (1997) and Wild Wild West (1999).

Johnson served as a top instructor at Norris’ karate schools in the Los Angeles area starting in the late 1960s, and his students over the years included Steve McQueen, Bob Barker and members of the Osmond family.

For The Karate Kid (1984), Johnson told Sports Illustrated in 2018 that he trained actors Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio “separately, really hard. They would moan and bitch — they developed a relationship because they had that in common.”

He also taught Macchio the “crane kick” that his desperate Daniel LaRusso delivers to end his All Valley tournament match with Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) in the first film’s climatic moments. He would note, however that the move is “not something that’s really legitimate or realistic.”

Johnson then returned for the sequels in 1986 and 1989 and for the 1994 reboot, The Next Karate Kid, starring Hilary Swank.

Born in 1939 in Niagara Falls, New York, Johnson learned Tang Soo Do, an ancient Korean form of karate, while serving as a chaplain with the U.S. Army in Korea in 1963. He said it took him just 13 months to earn his black belt.

After the service, he competed in karate tournaments in the U.S. and met Norris at an event in Detroit. “He and I struck a really good bond at the time because we had both trained in Korea, we had both gotten our black belts in Korea,” he said in a 2016 documentary.

“He mentioned to me one time that ‘If you should ever decide to come to California, I think we could work really well together.’ I really don’t know exactly why I did it, but one day I jumped on a Greyhound bus, came to California and said, ‘Chuck, I’m here.’”

With Norris operating a chain of karate schools, Johnson served as his main instructor at the Sherman Oaks location (Norris had opened that spot with legendary grappler Gene LeBell). Later, he captained the actor’s black belt competition team and won an individual national karate title in 1971.

(Johnson also is known for creating the sport’s penalty point system, designed to keep fighters safe and encourage sportsmanship.)

He did stunts and tussled with John Saxon in Enter the Dragon, starring Bruce Lee and Norris, then worked on films including Black Belt Jones (1974), The Ultimate Warrior (1975), Norris’ Good Guys Wear Black (1978) and Curtis Hanson’s The Little Dragons (1979), where he played a karate instructor.

In 2019, Zabka told Men’s Health magazine that the martial arts expert “built me up from nothing.”

“I didn’t know anything about [karate] when I first started,” he said. “I was a wrestler in high school and very limber and athletic. The discipline that he gave me physically, mentally and technically was incredible; so much so, that I trained with him after the film was over. It’s amazing how his teaching has stayed with me all these years.”

In the Sports Illustrated piece, Zabka said he “got the attitude for my character from Pat. I used his Ki-yahs. I used the way he stood with his hands in his belt.”

Johnon also served as president of the National Tang Soo Do Congress, which was created by Norris in 1973, until it disbanded in 1979. He and Norris than led the United Fighting Arts Federation. He was inducted into the North American Sport Karate Association Hall of Fame in 1993.

In addition to his niece, survivors include his wife of more than 50 years, Sue; sons Brett (and his wife, Leah), Garth (Lisa), Larry (Kim) and Erik; and siblings Richard and Cindy.

Stunts

The Unlikely President (2012)

The Unlikely President

Short

fight choreographer

2012

 

Ray Stevenson in Punisher: War Zone (2008)

Punisher: War Zone

5.9

action sequence supervisor

stunt coordinator (as Pat Johnson, uncredited)

2008

 

Erin Daniels, Jason Kravits, Lisa Arturo, James Avery, Elya Baskin, Adam Biesk, Richard Burgi, Dwight Ewell, Michael Fairman, William Gregory Lee, Jack McGee, Rainn Wilson, and Alexander Gould in Wheelmen (2005)

Wheelmen

4.1

stunt driver (as Pat Johnson)

2005

 

Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam, and Geoff Bell in Green Street Hooligans (2005)

Green Street Hooligans

7.4

stunt coordinator (as Pat Johnson)

2005

 

Nastassja Kinski, Gérard Depardieu, Michael York, Caspar Zafer, and Andrew Musselman in La Femme Musketeer (2004)

La Femme Musketeer

5.5

TV Series

stunt coordinator

2004

2 episodes

 

Detonator (2003)

Detonator

4.1

stunts (as Pat Johnson)

2003

 

Dash Mihok in Johnny Flynton (2002)

Johnny Flynton

6.4

Short

stunt coordinator (as Pat Johnson)

2002

 

Rutger Hauer, Mark Dacascos, and John Rhys-Davies in Scorcher (2002)

Scorcher

3.7

utility stunts

2002

 

Project Viper (2002)

Project Viper

3.6

TV Movie

utility stunts (as Pat Johnson)

2002

 

They Crawl (2001)

They Crawl

3.4

utility stunts (as Pat Johnson)

2001

 

Militia (2000)

Militia

3.5

stunts (as Pat Johnson)

2000

 

Kevin Kline and Will Smith in Wild Wild West (1999)

Wild Wild West

4.9

stunts

1999

 

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation

3.6

additional fight choreographer

stunt coordinator (as Pat Johnson)

1997

 

George Clooney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alicia Silverstone, Uma Thurman, and Chris O'Donnell in Batman & Robin (1997)

Batman & Robin

3.8

stunt coordinator

1997

 

Mortal Kombat (1995)

Mortal Kombat

5.8

fight coordinator

stunt coordinator

1995

 

Pat Morita and Hilary Swank in The Next Karate Kid (1994)

The Next Karate Kid

4.5

stunt coordinator

1994

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III

4.8

martial arts choreographer

stunt coordinator

1993

 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

5.7

stunts

1992

 

Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee in Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991)

Showdown in Little Tokyo

6.1

fight coordinator

1991

 

Kenn Scott, Adam Carl, Michelan Sisti, and Leif Tilden in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze

6.0

martial arts choreographer

stunt coordinator (as Pat Johnson)

1991

 

Corey Feldman, David Forman, Josh Pais, Robbie Rist, Michelan Sisti, Leif Tilden, and Brian Tochi in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

6.8

stunt coordinator

1990

 

Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita in The Karate Kid Part III (1989)

The Karate Kid Part III

5.3

stunts choreographer

1989

 

C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf (1988)

C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf

4.2

TV Movie

stunt coordinator

1988

 

C.A.T. Squad (1986)

C.A.T. Squad

4.7

TV Movie

stunt coordinator

1986

 

The Karate Kid Part II (1986)

The Karate Kid Part II

6.1

stunt coordinator (uncredited)

1986

 

To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)

To Live and Die in L.A.

7.3

stunt coordinator: fight sequences

1985

 

Michael Beck in The Last Ninja (1983)

The Last Ninja

5.3

TV Movie

stunt coordinator

1983

 

Joe Lewis and Richard Norton in Force: Five (1981)

Force: Five

5.0

stunt coordinator (as Pat Johnson)

1981

 

Jackie Chan in Battle Creek Brawl (1980)

Battle Creek Brawl

5.7

stunt coordinator

1980

 

The Hunter (1980)

The Hunter

6.2

stunts (as Pat Johnson)

1980

 

Pouri Baneai, Michael Dante, Peter Graves, and Curd Jürgens in Teheran Incident (1979)

Teheran Incident

3.0

stunt coordinator

1979

 

Chuck Norris in Good Guys Wear Black (1978)

Good Guys Wear Black

5.1

stunts (uncredited)

1978

 

Hot Potato (1976)

Hot Potato

3.8

stunt coordinator

1976

 

The Ultimate Warrior (1975)

The Ultimate Warrior

5.6

stunts

1975

 

Joe Don Baker, Jim Kelly, Burgess Meredith, and Ann Sothern in Golden Needles (1974)

Golden Needles

5.2

stunt coordinator (as Pat Johnson)

1974

 

Black Belt Jones (1974)

Black Belt Jones

6.2

stunts (uncredited)

1974

 

Bruce Lee, Ahna Capri, Jim Kelly, John Saxon, Kien Shih, and Robert Wall in Enter the Dragon (1973)

Enter the Dragon

7.6

stunts (uncredited)

1973

 

Actor

Jon Foo and Justin Hires in Rush Hour (2016)

Rush Hour

5.6

TV Series

Old Man (as Pat Johnson)

2016

1 episode

 

No More Kings: Sweep the Leg (2007)

No More Kings: Sweep the Leg

8.1

Short

Referee #1

2007

 

Dash Mihok in Johnny Flynton (2002)

Johnny Flynton

6.4

Short

Referee (as Pat Johnson)

2002

 

Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita in The Karate Kid Part III (1989)

The Karate Kid Part III

5.3

Referee

1989

 

The Karate Kid Part II (1986)

The Karate Kid Part II

6.1

Referee

1986

 

Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita in The Karate Kid (1984)

The Karate Kid

7.3

Referee

1984

 

Joe Lewis and Richard Norton in Force: Five (1981)

Force: Five

5.0

Man (uncredited)

1981

 

Jackie Chan in Battle Creek Brawl (1980)

Battle Creek Brawl

5.7

Carl (as Pat Johnson)

1980

 

Tom Horn (1980)

Tom Horn

6.8

Ora Haley's Bodyguard (as Pat Johnson)

1980

 

The Little Dragons (1979)

The Little Dragons

4.1

Karate Instructor (as Pat Johnson)

1979

 

A Force of One (1979)

A Force of One

5.1

Referee #1

1979

 

Chuck Norris in Good Guys Wear Black (1978)

Good Guys Wear Black

5.1

C.I.A. Agent (as Pat Johnson)

1978

 

The Ultimate Warrior (1975)

The Ultimate Warrior

5.6

Carrot's Man (as Pat Johnson)

1975

 

Joe Don Baker, Jim Kelly, Burgess Meredith, and Ann Sothern in Golden Needles (1974)

Golden Needles

5.2

Winter's Man (as Pat Johnson)

1974

 

Bruce Lee, Ahna Capri, Jim Kelly, John Saxon, Kien Shih, and Robert Wall in Enter the Dragon (1973)

Enter the Dragon

7.6

Hood (as Pat Johnson)

1973

 

Additional Crew

Dash Mihok in Johnny Flynton (2002)

Johnny Flynton

6.4

Short

boxing trainer (as Pat Johnson)

2002

 

Gary Sinise, Madeleine Stowe, and Mekhi Phifer in Impostor (2001)

Impostor

6.1

fight choreographer

2001

 

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation

3.6

additional fight choreographer

1997

 

Mortal Kombat: The Live Tour (1996)

Mortal Kombat: The Live Tour

6.6

Video

fight choreographer

1996

 

Mortal Kombat (1995)

Mortal Kombat

5.8

fight choreographer

1995

 

Pat Morita and Hilary Swank in The Next Karate Kid (1994)

The Next Karate Kid

4.5

martial arts choreographer

1994

 

Bolo Yeung, Michael Bernardo, and William Zabka in Shootfighter: Fight to the Death (1993)

Shootfighter: Fight to the Death

5.4

fight choreographer

1993

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III

4.8

martial arts choreographer

1993

 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

5.7

martial arts trainer

1992

 

Kenn Scott, Adam Carl, Michelan Sisti, and Leif Tilden in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze

6.0

martial arts choreographer

1991

 

Corey Feldman, David Forman, Josh Pais, Robbie Rist, Michelan Sisti, Leif Tilden, and Brian Tochi in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

6.8

martial arts choreographer

1990

 

Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita in The Karate Kid Part III (1989)

The Karate Kid Part III

5.3

martial arts choreographer

1989

 

The Karate Kid Part II (1986)

The Karate Kid Part II

6.1

martial arts choreographer

1986

 

Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita in The Karate Kid (1984)

The Karate Kid

7.3

martial arts choreographer

1984

 

The Little Dragons (1979)

The Little Dragons

4.1

technical advisor: karate (as Pat Johnson)

1979