Cynthia Rothrock – Tournament Days Inspirational Female Performer Videos

Cynthia Rothrock is a female American martial artist who excelled in the 1980’s competition scene and then went on to make Kung Fu movies in Hong Kong. Her main styles of were Eagle Claw and modern wushu. The early days of modern wushu were in the 1980s and in this time periods Wushu was much closer to its origins in traditional kung Fu. But it was already much showier, much flashier, and the two videos I am sharing today show this. In this period our tournaments were mostly Karate Tournaments that became open tournaments and included Kung Fu or all styles southern and Northern, modern wushu and Kenpo. This meant divisions were large incredibly diverse and few trophies were need because there were fewer divisions. “Open” or “ creative” division was the top division. In these divisions you could do whatever you wanted with or without music. These were creative self-choreographed routines. These open division had the top performers and were showpieces. They also had significant, for the 1980s, prize money. Center some people paid their rent by winning these tournaments. Their was also always prize money for Black Belt Adult sparring divisions. This post includes two videos one of Rothrock performing her self-created Snake Style Open Form and her competing in a Wushu competition. I love Rothrock’s strength, focus, intensity and solid kicking skills. Few modern wushu competitors have a side kick that is any good as hers was excellent.

Snake style open form

Wushu Form