Words by Carol Wright | Photos by Michael Fullem
We spoke with Jacob about his role as Eli in the YouTube Red original series, Cobra Kai.
What about Cobra Kai interested you when you auditioned for the project?
I grew up on the Karate Kid movies and I thought the concept was a very cool idea. Going into the backstory of Johnny and seeing what Cobra Kai Dojo was all about.
How does it feel to be a part of the Karate Kid legacy? Did you watch the movies growing up?
My little brother Blake and I loved the Karate Kid growing up. It’s surreal to be a part of this world.
Tell us about your character Eli. What about him resonated with you?
I was bullied as a kid and I loved the arc Eli has. I think it speaks to a lot of people. Cobra Kai isn’t for everyone, but it sure as hell worked for Eli.
What can fans expect from season 2 of Cobra Kai?
Lots more action-packed fights, but still embedded with all of the grounded tension and drama/comedy.
Did you have to train to get ready for the role?
A lot of training. In LA, we trained with Simon Rhee for one to two months, and when we got out to Atlanta, where we film, our stunt coordinators Hiro and Jahnelle trained us almost every day for a couple of hours a day. Lots and lots of stretching haha.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
The whole, ‘You’ll get 10,000 no’s and one yes,’ quote is 100 percent true. Develop thick skin because you will definitely get close to a lot of roles and not book. Just get through it and keep pushing forward. You’re one role away.