What does "Wax on, wax off" mean?

Question

I came across the saying when looking at the totallyabsurd.com article on Swinging Sticks. The end of the article says "We're not sure exactly how this will make you a better golfer, but the Swing Sticks sure make a great tool for beating back burglars. Wax on, wax off." However, I seached for it on the internet, and I can't seem to figure out what it means. It seems like a saying that's so taken as granted that people understand it that it's not really explained anywhere. The closest thing I found was that it's a reference to waxing a car in Karate Kid, but that doesn't make much sense in this context. So what does it mean in the context? (and why is it such a popular phrase?)

Answer 1

Yes it is a reference to karate kid. He learned to block punches by using the same hand motion as putting wax on a car then polishing it off.
It refers to karate fighting technique. So they are basically saying you can use wax on wax off technique to beat back burglers with swing stix that is what they mean.

Answer 2

Yes, the phrase was used in Karate Kid. It was such a popular scene that people forever remember the lines. As such, making the comment "wax on, wax off" means to "go Miyagi" (the martial arts master in the film) on their behinds. Basically, give them a good martial arts style beating.

Answer 3

Have you ever seen the movie, "Karate Kid"? There is a wonderful scene where the sage philosopher played by Pat Morita is teaching a young prodigy Karate. He begins by having him wax the car. He demonstrates a circular motion for waxing the car and saying "wax on-wax off". Later in the movie, the prodigy becomes frustrated with what appears to be exercises in slave labor and no real teaching of Karate.

Pat Morita lunges at the boy and says to him "wax on" - whereby the boy moves his hands in the circular motion which is a defense posture in Karate.

Wax on - wax off

Answer 4

If you watch the "Karate Kid", the master taught the student how to block punches (or more accurately, how to practice blocking punches), by putting wax on old cars by rotating his right hand clockwise, and taking the wax off the cars by rotating his left hand counterclockwise.

So, according to the movie:

"Wax-on" = defending with the right hand

"Wax-off" = defending with the left

in context of the video about "Swing Sticks" they probably don't mean for you to imitate the scene from the movie literally (Karate does not use sticks), but they are probably making a cultural reference to defending yourself with martial arts.

Answer 5

It is from the movie Karate Kid.
Kesuke Miyagi, the mentor to "Daniel-san," taught karate while trying to catch flies with chopsticks and offering such advice as "wax on, wax off" to help Daniel improve his karate hand movements while doing his chores.

So what does it mean in the context?
Repetition and practise will improve your golf swing.

Answer 6

Referenced from the Karate Kid movie where Mr Miyagi is attempting to teach the white kid discipline. The act of "wax on, wax off" refers to practice and consistency through repeating action over and over.

"Practice makes Perfect"

Answer 7

You're right, it does come from the Karate Kid.... Also, the saying is "spoofed" in the Teenage Mutate Ninja Turtles movie.

It's actually quite literal as a phrase.... When you wax something you first have to Buff on the wax, then you have to buff off the excess wax. You "wax on" then "wax off"... Not sure how else to explain it, so I hope this helps.

Answer 8

In the Karate Kid, He put Wax on, then wiped it off. could mean hit twice!!!!(the burglars) or " they came they saw they concorde"!!!! like they provided the info and now their done.



hope this helped.

Answer 9

I know "wax on, wax off" as the movement of your hands. moving your hands in a circular motion as if you were waxing a car with one hand and wiping the wax off with the other.

Answer 10

Totallyabsurd.com