Cobra Kai’s Rayna Vallandingham Shares the Secret to Crushing Those Spin Kicks

Before She Became a Villain on Cobra Kai, Rayna Vallandingham Had Never Seen the Show

Before Rayna Vallandingham joined the cast of Netflix’s Cobra Kai last year, making her debut as villain Zara Malik in season six, part two, the athlete-turned-actor had never actually seen the show. That’s because the teen action dramedy, which is a follow-up to the Karate Kid franchise and centers on martial arts battles, hit a little too close to home. "It felt like my own life," Vallandingham tells SELF. So the 13-time tae kwon do world champion, who holds a fourth-degree black belt (that’s a super high karate rank), avoided watching it… until she booked the role of Zara. Then? "I just fell in love with it," she says.

Standout Performance and Fierce Intensity

In turn, viewers fell in love with Vallandingham, who garnered praise for her "standout" performance and "fierce intensity." With 3.7 million followers on Instagram and another 3.1 million on TikTok, Vallandingham is a strong advocate for participation in martial arts, regularly posting videos that showcase the power, finesse, and grit the practice demands. "I don’t know who I would be without it," she says. "It teaches you discipline and perseverance and respect, and not only to respect others, but to respect yourself and value yourself."

Mastering the Art of Martial Arts

With season six, part three premiering February 13—marking the end of the show’s nearly seven-year run—we chatted with Vallandingham about how she trained for the role, what it takes to master those high-flying kicks, and all the ways martial arts has bettered her as an athlete (and a human!).

Channelling the Confidence of Her Eight-Year-Old Self

Vallandingham, who just turned 22, has been practicing martial arts for 20 years—her parents put her in tae kwon do lessons as a toddler. So booking Cobra Kai was a homecoming of sorts. "It really just felt like, okay, I get to just go on this set and just be myself," Los Angeles-based Vallandingham explains. That said, despite Vallandingham’s decades-long experience in competitive martial arts, nothing could have prepared her for the demanding choreography of Cobra Kai. "You’re doing it over and over and over again, different camera angles, different lenses, different intensity," she says. "It’s really so much fun, but definitely very intense."

The Role of Weight Lifting in Martial Arts

To get through these demanding moments on set, she would take a deep breath, sip an energy drink, and channel her inner eight-year-old, the version of Rayna that loved competition. When filming all sorts of flips, kicks, aerials, choreography, and weapon work, "that competitive mindset really took over again, and I got back to who Rayna really is at the core," she explains. This approach helped her get in the right headspace. "I was really immersed in this world, and I truly became this character," she says. "I feel like we all kind of felt like we were truly in this world. It was definitely a cool energy in the air."

Conclusion

As Vallandingham’s character, Zara Malik, takes center stage in the final episodes of Cobra Kai, fans can expect to be wowed by her impressive martial arts skills. And with Vallandingham’s own passion for the art form, it’s clear that her dedication to martial arts has had a profound impact on her life and career.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How did you prepare for the role of Zara Malik in Cobra Kai?
A: I trained extensively in martial arts, honing my skills in tae kwon do and other disciplines.

Q: What’s your favorite part about playing Zara Malik?
A: I love the physicality of the role, getting to perform all the cool stunts and fight choreography.

Q: How do you balance your competitive spirit with your passion for martial arts?
A: For me, martial arts is a way to channel my competitive energy in a positive way, while also learning valuable life skills like discipline and perseverance.