Cynthia Rothrock
American karateka with black belts in seven disciplines, five-time world champion in forms and weapons in 1981–1985, later a star of Hong Kong action films.
Quick Facts
United StatesBiography
Cynthia Rothrock is an American karateka and actress, a native of Wilmington in the state of Delaware. We have not been able to verify her exact date of birth in the sources. She grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and began martial arts at 13.
She earned black belts in seven disciplines: Tang Soo Do (8th dan), taekwondo, Eagle Claw, wushu, northern Shaolin, karate and Pai Lum Tao kung-fu. She became famous in forms and weapons competitions. In 1981–1985 she won the world champion title five times. In her first 38 tournaments she won 32 times in forms and 12 times in weapons. Because at some tournaments a women's forms division did not then exist, she also competed in the men's. In 1983 Black Belt magazine inducted her into its Hall of Fame as “Female Competitor of the Year”.
In 1985 she made her acting debut in the film Yes, Madam alongside Michelle Yeoh. She stayed in Hong Kong until 1988 and made seven films there, credited under the name Foo Lok Law. In America she starred in the China O'Brien series and in the films Martial Law, in which Richard Norton co-starred. In 1986 she published the book Advanced Dynamic Kicks with George Chung.
In 2014 she was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame and in 2016 the Martial Arts History Museum awarded her the title “Queen of Martial Arts”. She returned to acting in 2012 and works as a martial arts instructor.
Associated Martial Arts
Achievements and honours
- World Championships1st place · 1981
- Hall of Fame2014