Action film star Cynthia Rothrock has over 50 movies under her five black belts but her favorite role is mothering her daughter, Skyler. Prior to Skyler's birth, Rothrock's film career was in full keri (kick) but she and her husband, Daniel, ached for a child. "Suddenly I got to the point where I said 'I don't care -- it's time to do this and if I never work in films again, that's OK,'" says Rothrock. "Actually, I'd already accomplished my goal -- when I started acting my big hope was to be on a movie poster so that I could say to my child someday, 'Look mom was in a movie.' I had no idea my career would last this long."

Rothrock turned down three movie offers while pregnant but that didn't stop producers from contacting her after Skyler's birth. She decided to possibly resume acting in the future, but first she had to learn how to be a mom. As an only child, Rothrock wasn't around small children growing up. "I didn't even know how to change a diaper when Skyler was born and I was petrified to come home with a fragile newborn," she says. "But as soon as we got home my maternal instinct kicked in." To her surprise, she soon became the authority on Skyler's care. "One day I found myself thinking, I can do this -- I know how to be a mom!"

She savored starring as Skyler's mom, but would motherhood and acting be compatible? Rothrock decided to get back in shape and see what might happen with her career.

When Skyler was 3 months old people started calling Rothrock to request private lessons from this martial arts master. As an undefeated kata (forms) and weapons champion (she held the title for five years before retiring) she'd always been in demand as a teacher. Rothrock decided to instruct a few students -- but only if her baby came first. "If Skyler cries or needs something, I'll have to go to her," she recalls telling her students.

Skyler grew up watching the classes. "She was a cute little show-off," Rothrock laughs. "Skyler learned how to kick on her own before walking and she'd hold onto something and put her leg up knowing we'd clap." Because Skyler has shown an interest, Rothrock enrolled her in a "Mommy and Me Little Dragons Class" when she was older.

But Rothrock definitely won't push martial arts on her daughter. "I've seen parents try to force their kids into things they don't want to do and it doesn't work. But if Skyler wants to learn martial arts, that's great."

The Call of the Silver Screen
While teaching martial arts and working out privately, Rothrock found herself resuming her usual chos hi (rhythm). Soon she was receiving movie offers again. She decided to try acting, but only if she could bring Skyler on location. Rothrock, Rothrock's mom, and Skyler have just returned from Puerto Rico, where Rothrock starred in Never Say Die. "My mom watched Skyler during the day and that was great," she says. "She lives on the east coast and I live on the west so we don't get enough time together." The three of them stayed in a condo on the beach instead of a hotel because it was more comfortable for Skyler. When Rothrock wasn't working they chased waves, admired neon-orange sunsets and searched for the perfect seashell.

Just like her mom, Skyler revels in adventure and she loved her stay in Puerto Rico. "She's been on 14 flights and has a passport, and she's always ready to go," laughs Rothrock. When at home in the Los Angeles area, Rothrock likes to take Skyler on power lunches, where her daughter basks in big-girl attention, or on weekends the whole family heads for the beach or to Disneyland, where they put their season pass to good use.

Husband Daniel often gives Rothrock a break and puts Skyler to bed. And when he does, Rothrock heads for her computer. She's writing a comedic autobiography about her adventures in the male-dominated fields of martial arts and acting, and she hopes her book will inspire women to keep their sense of humor while fighting for their dreams.

Rothrock is thrilled that more and more women are enrolling in martial arts classes. She credits Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and other action films with showing women that they can defend themselves. "When you have a baby, you're responsible for its life and the baby is relying on you," she says. "All women and girls should learn some form of self-defense to protect themselves and their family." She adds that martial arts also teach discipline and patience. "As a mom those traits definitely come in handy," she laughs.