Tyron Woodley wants to be remembered for being much more than a UFC fighter, where he has been a four-time Welterweight Champion. A former collegiate wrestler, Woodley has boxed professionally, hosted a podcast, and taken up acting roles. He notably plays the role of Sensei Odell in Cobra Kai, appearing in 5 episodes of season 5 of the Netflix show.
Which Season of Cobra Kai Does Tyron Woodley Appear?
Tyron Woodley can be seen expressing his acting talent in season 5 of Cobra Kai. Season 5 has 10 episodes and Woodley appeared in 5 episodes of the show that debuted on Netflix on September 9, 2022.
In this Cobra Kai installment, the conflict between new Cobra Kai owner Terry Silver and Daniel LaRusso is the central theme. Following Miyagi-Do’s defeat at the end of Season 4, Cobra Kai undergoes expansion under Silver’s leadership, necessitating the recruitment of new instructors.
There is a lot of martial arts fighting going on in Cobra Kai and the series remained determined to give fans the real deal. As a result, producers sought out real-life fighters, making Tyron Woodley an ideal candidate for a role as one of the instructors. His former rival Stephen Thompson was also considered.
Landing a role on Cobra Kai was like a dream come true for Tyron Woodley. Not only had he pursued an acting career for so long and a role in this series will bolster his resume, he was a huge fan of Karate Kid as a child and was inspired to start fighting as a result.
The former UFC champion’s appearance in Season 5 of Cobra Kai was quickly noticed by fans, generating considerable buzz on social media platforms. One surprised fan on Twitter exclaimed, “I can’t believe Tyron Woodley is in Cobra Kai Season 5,” while another appeared puzzled, asking, “What is Tyron Woodley doing in Cobra Kai?”
Tyron Woodley’s Cobra Kai Character
In Cobra Kai, Tyron Woodley plays the role of Sensei Odell, a supporting character who plays a significant part in the unfolding drama. Odell is recruited by Terry Silver to assist in the ambitious expansion plans of the Cobra Kai Dojo, both nationally and internationally, following their victory at the 51st Annual Karate Championships. Odell made his first appearance at an airport, where he joined other senseis in welcoming Terry Silver. He was present when Silver seized control of Topanga Karate, holding a box filled with gi uniforms for students opting to join Cobra Kai.
A crucial moment unfolds when Chozen and Johnny engage in a confrontation with Hyan-Woo at the Topanga location. Odell, along with Kim Da-Eun and other senseis, threatens to intervene as Kim reveals Cobra Kai’s takeover. Subsequently, under Terry Silver’s orders, Odell engages in sparring sessions with Kyler Park and Kenny Payne. Notably, he manages to overpower both opponents due to Kyler’s lack of leadership. However, Kenny ingeniously defeats Odell by using Kyler as a launching pad, granting him an advantage to deliver a decisive kick to Odell’s face, which earns the admiration of Silver.
Odell’s involvement continues as Silver plans to expand Cobra Kai on a global scale, a move that includes qualifying for the Sekai Taikai overseen by a group of organizers led by Gunther Braun. During this event, Odell holds a wooden board that Kenny Payne effortlessly shatters with a single punch, serving as a demonstration of Cobra Kai’s formidable abilities.
In a particularly intense moment, Odell witnesses Kim punishing Tory Nichols for failing to appear for her match against Samantha LaRusso in the Sekai Taikai Tournament. Kim subjects Tory to the grueling task of breaking a solid stone plate, a feat that proves excruciatingly difficult and nearly injurious, following multiple attempts.
At Silver’s mansion, Odell joins forces with other senseis in a brawl against Johnny Lawrence, initially gaining the upper hand. However, Johnny eventually rallies, utilizing a well-placed kick to Odell’s groin and deftly evading Min-Jun’s attacks, inadvertently leading to Odell’s pinkie finger being severed. Ultimately, Johnny prevails by incapacitating Odell, knocking him unconscious after hurling Min-Jun to the ground.
List of Tyron Woodley’s Cobra Kai Episodes
You can watch Tyron Woodley showcase his acting talents in 5 of the 10 episodes of Cobra Kai. His debut came in episode 6 when he was introduced as Sensei Odell.
1. Episode 6 – “Ouroboros”
Terry assembles a team of skilled senseis, including Tyron Woodley’s character Odell Sensei from South Korea, led by Kim Da-Eun, the granddaughter of Kim Sun-yung. Kim partners with Terry to teach her grandfather’s martial arts to American teens. Meanwhile, Daniel is recovering but hesitant to get involved further. Terry takes over Topanga Karate, where Devon trains, leading to a clash between Tory and Devon. Kreese’s attempt to leave prison is thwarted by his therapist, and Johnny and Chozen face the new international senseis at Topanga Karate. Amanda convinces Daniel to rejoin the fight.
2. Episode 7 – “Bad Eggs”
Cobra Kai keeps expanding in this episode by taking over more and more dojos across the Valley. Daniel and Johnny are growing desperate, enough to resort to Kreese for help regarding what Silver is up to. They are able to expose Terry’s desire for winning in the Sekai Taikai tournament. Chozen, on the other hand, introduces a challenge where students have to protect the eggs that have been assigned to them. While the students initially fail, they later succeed through teamwork.
3. Episode 8 – “Taikai”
Sekai Taikai representatives evaluating Cobra Kai’s eligibility. The judges opt for a tournament-style showdown to decide participation. Kreese advises Tory to focus on herself, leading to Sam’s discovery of Miguel’s necklace. Kenny defeats Eli using a technique he learned from Silver. A rigged match occurs, but Sam wins, allowing both dojos to join Sekai Taikai.
4. Episode 9 – “Survivors”
Sam confronts Tory about her alliance with Kreese at the house party. Carmen and Johnny celebrate their pregnancy with a night out. Daniel hires them a limo, and they all get drunk at the nightclub, even Chozen. The Miygai-Do teens contemplate what to do with Tory’s news. Terry paid a referee to cheat, and then they framed Kreese for assault.
Bert gets them into Stingray’s house, and he practically admits to the conspiracy. Terry beat Stingray almost to death and then framed Kreese. Kim suspects Tory’s betrayal and trains her hard until her knuckles bleed. Sam makes amends with Tory. Daniel, Johnny, and Chozen head off to the next bar in the limo but find themselves taken hostage in the vehicle.
5. Episode 10 – “Head of the Snake”
Kreese’s act of mercy in jail turns into a deadly brawl with an uncertain outcome. Barnes, on the other hand, is driven by revenge to attack Silver and his senseis at their mansion. Johnny and Chozen join Barnes on this mission, while Daniel opts to stay behind.
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