Alappuzha: Hollywood actress and renowned international martial artist Cynthia Rothrock trained students in karate in Alappuzha, Kerala.

Cynthia, who is in Kerala to attend an event, mentioned the importance of Kalaripayattu and said that it should be promoted to international level. She is also known as the “Queen of Martial Arts”.

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Cynthia was a five-time world Champion in ‘forms’ and ‘weapons’ between 1981 and 1985. In 1983, she was inducted into Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame as Female Competitor of the Year and was one of the first women in the world to be on the cover of a martial arts magazine in 1981.

The actress reached Alappuzha to attend a seminar and lead a session of World Martial Arts Federation.

Meanwhile, VZ Sebastian, chairman of Ko-In-Chi academy of martial arts was conferred with a degree in karate.

Cynthia also said that she is impressed by the greenery and backwaters of Alappuzha. She had initially planned to leave the state by Monday (May 13) but later she changed her mind and requested the authorities to allow her to stay back more in the beautiful place.

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She is also planning to make a movie on Kalaripayattu. She told the people in Kerala that Kalaripayattu is the base of all the martial arts around the world. The 62-year-old woman now travels around the globe to take classes, seminars and workshops. She also advised students to learn a martial art and conquer the world.

She also said that she is motivated by her mother, from who she started to learn martial arts. She then recalled that she had friendly fights with her mother too.