Gina Carano
Cynthia Rothrock, “The Queen Of Martial Arts Films”
In a recent post just several days ago I referred to Gina Carano as “The Face Of Women’s MMA”.
Today I would like to introduce Cynthia Rockroth, “The Queen Of Martial Arts Films”.
She was once quoted, “throughout my life, I’ve been opening the door for other women to get involved with martial arts films. I was the first woman to be on the cover of a karate magazine and the first woman to win a men’s championship.”
Quite an accomplishment!
I myself became aware of Cynthia Rothrock while flipping through a martial arts publication, I guess it was Black Belt Magazine, probably in the very early 80s when she was on the West coast demo team.
Between 1981 and 1985 Cynthia Rothrock was a five-time (and undefeated) World Karate Champion in forms and weapons.
Remarkably, these categories were open to both male and females at the time.
She currently holds an astonishing five Black belts in numerous Far Eastern martial art styles such as Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do and Wu Shu.
She most probably was the first Caucasian actress that ever had a lead role in a Chinese film as a heroine.
Rothrock became one of the few Caucasian performers to achieve big-time stardom in the local Hong Kong film industry having starred with Michelle Yeoh, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, even before achieving success in the U.S.
Reportedly, she set a record of becoming the very first non-Chinese westerner to carry an action movie single-handedly in Hong Kong. Cynthia departed from Hong Kong as one of the most celebrated action stars in Hong Kong’s movie history!
She has starred in countless movies here in the U.S. since returning from Hong Kong in the late 80s.
Probably best known for starring in “China O’Brien” and “Guardian Angel”, Cynthis Rothrock has added the fact that she is an inductee to the Black Belt Hall of Fame and Inside Kung-Fu Hall of Fame to her long list of outstanding accomplishments.
Even after all her major achievements off and on the Big Screen, Cynthia has also become certified as an instructor of Fighting Chance Combat Systems, a reality based, self defense system against armed assaults.
Cynthia Rothrock – Queen Of Martial Arts Films
Meet Gina Carano, The Face Of Women’s MMA
Meet Gina Carano, not just another pretty face, but The face of women’s MMA.
Besides being a looker, she definitely is a fighter.
Gina Carano is originally from Texas and notably her dad was a professional football player during the late 70s till early 80s with the Dallas Cowboys and then at the end of his career with the USFL Pittsburgh Maulers.
Gina was a very gifted high school basketball player in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Martial arts? Not yet!
Usually it’s “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”. But not in Gina’s case.
Gina Carano was introduced to Muay Thai by her ex-boyfriend, a professional Muay Thai fighter.
Working the bag and the mitts undeterredly she was able to establish a very impressive Muay Thai fight record of 12-1-1.
Training under Master Toddy and getting national exposure on the “Ring Girls” and then “Fight Girls”, where Gina Carano was one of five American young women who accept the daunting challenge of fighting professional female Muay Thai fighter here in the U.S. as well as in Thailand.
With the conviction of a true champion she laid the foundation for launching her MMA career just 3 three years ago.
Fighting for Team Xtreme Couture out of Las Vegas, Gina has become a household name in the shortest of time.
She most certainly is an awesome inspiration for girls and women to get involved in Muay Thai and/or MMA.
And yes, I think that’s a good thing!
Her Strikeforce MMA record currently stands at 7 wins and 1 loss.
Gina’s only loss was by TKO against a truly formidable opponent, Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Santos from Brazil, in the first round of their bout last August.
Before the fight I was listening to an interview Gina Carano gave and I thought I heard some self-doubt coming from her.
In essence, she said something to the extent of ‘whoever wins the fight, will be a deserving champion and women’s MMA will continue to gain popularity’. Hmm.
Either way, Gina Carano is a superb fighter who knows her stuff and she continues to do an amazing job in getting women of all ages excited about Muay Thai and MMA.
Meet Gina Carano, The Face Of Women’s MMA.
Master Toddy, Muay Thai Legend And Trainer Of World Champions
Master Toddy, one of Muay Thai’s most famous coaches and an absolute authority in producing world kickboxing champions who come to him from all kinds of countries, runs a very respected Kick-Boxing Gym in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Some reports say that he has trained over forty world champions and that many of them attained world champion status within just a year of training with him.
Master Toddy started his very successful coaching career in the 80’s in England before packing up his gym and trying his luck in the United States.
The TV show “Fight Girls” certainly gave him exposure and national recognition by a greater audience.
Master Toddy did his magic by taking a bunch of very ambitious girls to a level of fighting that they were very capable of
competing with professional female Muay Thai fighters in Las Vegas and even in Thailand.
Of course, viewers were able to experience some TV drama (always helps the ratings), but overall both coach and fighters did an outstanding job.
Especially outstanding was Gina Carano, who went on to become today’s female face of Mixed Martial Arts.
What usually doesn’t get reported is that Master Toddy has one the most devastating Muay Thai kicks ever.
It has been reported that when he applies his waist-high round kick, he can kick even a very strong and muscular man holding the banana bag entirley off his feet about six feet backwards.
And then we have his son, Dayel Sitiwatjana, who obviously is an extremely talented boxer and who is aspiring to climb all the way to top.
We might just be seeing history in the making!
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