Does Martin Kove Have a History of Violence? 'Karate Kid' Star Kicked Out of Fan Convention
The 78-year-old was at Summer Con for his show 'Cobra Kai' in which he reprises his 1984 'Karate Kid' role, John Kreese.

'Karate Kid' actor Martin Kove was made to leave a fan convention over the weekend after biting the arm of 'Cobra Kai' costar Alicia Hannah-Kim.
The actors were at Summer Con in Washington on Sunday when Kove allegedly bit his co-star during a VIP meet-and-greet.
Hannah-Kim was meeting Kove at their booth and tapped him on the shoulder to greet him. That's when the incident occured.
'Martin Kove suddenly grabbed her arm and bit her upper arm so hard it nearly drew blood, and she yelled out in pain,' read an informational police report obtained by PEOPLE. 'Once Martin Kove finished biting her arm, he grabbed her arm again and began kissing it where he had bit her.'
Kove is a trained martial artist and has starred in over 80 films, many as aggressive characters in action-thrillers. However, Sunday's alleged attack is the first known accusation of violence made against the 78-year-old actor.
Kove Claims He Bit Hannah-Kim 'Out Of Jest'
According to the police report obtained by PEOPLE, Hannah-Kim sought an on-site officer after Kove exploded on her and her husband when they confronted him about the bite.
The officer acknowledged that the bitemark was noticeable and 'already turning blue and bruising.'
Upon being questioned by the officer, Kove admitted to biting his co-star but said he did it 'out of jest,' claiming the pair play-fight on set all the time.
Hannah-Kim joined the cast of 'Cobra Kai' in season five as sensei Kim Da-Eun. Kove has been a part of the show since its first season, resuming his 'Karate Kid' role of John Kreese.
Despite claiming he did nothing wrong, Kove was told by the officer that his actions were illegal and 'would not be tolerated in the future.' He was then escorted out of the fan convention by the Cobra Kai producer that was at the event.
Hannah-Kim has not pressed charges against Kove but requested an official report 'in case this continues.'
Not Just Acting– Kove Is A Trained Martial Artist
Kove first starred as John Kreese, the Vietnam war veteran and antagonist sensei back in the first Karate Kid film in 1984.
He reprised the role in both The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), and the six-season series 'Cobra Kai' which is a sequel to the original Karate Kid film.
The Booklyn native isn't just an actor though.
A trained martial artist, Kove has black belts in Kendo, Okinawa-te, and Tiger Kenpo. He trained under martial arts expert, Gorden Doversola Shihan, to learn Okinawa-te– an indigenous martial art that predates Karate.
Kove injured his hand during the famous car punching window scene in The Karate Kid Part II. He ended up punching through the glass window himself due to the effects team's poor timing. Despite sustaining several injuries to his hand, Kove kept filming.
'It hurt, and it was tough,' he told Muscle & Fitness (M&F) magazine.
Even at 78-years-old, Kove tries to do most of his own stunts, only swapping with a stunt double if the action or director requires it.
Beyond the Karate Kid franchise, Kove has starred in over 80 films, most in the action-thriller genre, including Rambo: First Blood Part II, Without Mercy, and Wyatt Earp.
Kove Says Karate Helps With Discipline
Kove shared with M&F that he begins each day with meditation.
'I really love karate because of what it does for the discipline, and for your focus on other things,' he said.
He also works regularly with a personal trainer to keep fit.
With no prior record of violence, it seems as though Sunday's actions may have been an honest mistake, despite Kove's lack of remorse towards Hannah-Kim.
Perhaps Kove needs to spend less time 'play-fighting' and more time meditating and focusing on the discipline he credits to Karate.
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