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The Top Six “Girls with Guns” Heroines of Martial Arts Cinema

Girls with Guns Michelle Yeoh, Moon Lee, Cynthia Khan, Yukari Oshima, Sibelle Hu, Sharon Yeung Pan Pan. The “Girls with Guns” era of martial arts cinema, spanning the mid-1980s to early 1990s, was a bold chapter…

The “Girls with Guns” era of martial arts cinema, spanning the mid-1980s to early 1990s, was a bold chapter in Hong Kong action films. These movies broke new ground by placing fierce, skilled women at the forefront. it blended martial arts with high-octane gunplay. Set against urban backdrops, the genre became known for its stylish action sequences, fearless heroines, and the defiance of male-dominated action tropes. It had a lasting impact on global cinema.

Girls with Guns

Here are the top six heroines who defined the Girls with Guns period of martial arts cinema.

1. Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh is arguably the most recognizable figure from the “Girls with Guns” era. Originally trained as a dancer, Yeoh transitioned into action films with her breakout role in Yes, Madam (1985), co-starring Cynthia Rothrock. Her physicality was evident in hits like Royal Warriors (1986) and Police Story 3: Supercop (1992), where she performed her own stunts alongside Jackie Chan. Yeoh’s ability to balance grace with grit made her a pioneer, paving the way for women in action films. Today, she continues to inspire, recently winning an Academy Award for Everything Everywhere All at Once.

2. Moon Lee

Known as the queen of the subgenre, Moon Lee charmed audiences with her athleticism and stunts. A former dancer, Lee became a household name with films like Iron Angels (1987) and Devil Hunters (1989). Her performances were a mix of agility and toughness, often portraying heroines who faced overwhelming odds. Lee’s willingness to take on risky stunts added to her status, though it led to a near-fatal accident on set. One of the top Girls with Guns.

3. Cynthia Khan

Cynthia Khan burst onto the scene as the successor to Michelle Yeoh in the In the Line of Duty series, starting with In the Line of Duty 3 (1988). Her screen name, a blend of “Cynthia Rothrock” and “Michelle Khan,” echoed her role as a torchbearer for the genre. Khan’s background in taekwondo and dance made her a natural fit for action-packed roles, particularly in In the Line of Duty 4 (1989) alongside Donnie Yen.

4. Yukari Oshima

Japanese martial artist Yukari Oshima became a sensation in Hong Kong cinema with her powerful performances and unique fighting style, rooted in Goju-ryu karate. Often cast as a villain, Oshima showed her ability in films like Angel (1987) and Angel Terminators (1992). Her combination of striking techniques and acrobatic choreography made her fight scenes unforgettable. After her Hong Kong career waned, Oshima found success in the Philippines, further cementing her legacy as a dynamic action star.

5. Sibelle Hu

Sibelle Hu brought an air of authority to the “Girls with Guns” subgenre, often playing tough-as-nails police officers. Best known for The Inspector Wears Skirts (1988) series, Hu was a commanding presence on screen, blending a no-nonsense attitude with impressive action sequences. Despite a serious injury during the filming of Devil Hunters (1989), she remained a prominent figure in the genre before transitioning into a quieter life after marriage.

6. Sharon Yeung Pan Pan

Sharon Yeung Pan Pan was an actress who combined martial arts with emotional depth. Starring in films like Angel Enforcers (1989) and Princess Madam (1989), she added an edge to the subgenre. Her ability to switch between drama and high-octane action earned her a devoted following.

Michiko Nishiwaki – The Pioneer of Martial Arts Movies and Body Building

Michiko Nishiwaki’s career spans bodybuilding, martial arts, and action cinema. Born on November 21, 1957, in Japan, she has…

Michiko Nishiwaki’s career spans bodybuilding, martial arts, and action cinema. Born on November 21, 1957, in Japan, she has challenged norms and inspired change in multiple fields. With her action movies, she was a key figure in the martial arts boom era of filmmaking.

Michiko Nishiwaki

Japan’s First Female Bodybuilding Champion

In the early 1980s, Michiko Nishiwaki became Japan’s first female bodybuilding champion. She held the title for three years. Her success came without using performance-enhancing drugs.

At a time when muscular women faced criticism, Nishiwaki showed that strength and femininity could coexist. Her achievements led to a fitness boom in Japan. She opened three gyms and appeared frequently on television.

Martial Arts Expertise

Nishiwaki is trained in several martial arts. She holds a black belt in G?j?-ry? karate and has studied Shotokan karate, wushu, and taekwondo. These skills became central to her film career.

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My Lucky Stars

Nishiwaki debuted in the 1985 film My Lucky Stars with Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. She often played villains and tough female characters in action films. Her roles helped popularize the “girls with guns” subgenre.

Hong Kong Cinema

Her films, such as In the Line of Duty III and Avenging Quartet, highlighted her martial arts and stunt abilities. She became a key figure in Hong Kong action cinema during the 1980s and 1990s.

Hollywood Stunt Career

After her success in Hong Kong, Michiko Nishiwaki moved to Hollywood. She worked as a stuntwoman for stars like Lucy Liu in Charlie’s Angels and Kelly Hu in The Scorpion King. Her stunts appeared in films like Kill Bill: Vol. 2 and Mission: Impossible III.

Nishiwaki broke barriers for women in fitness, martial arts, and film. She inspired more women to pursue strength training and martial arts. Her work brought Hong Kong action styles to global audiences.

Martial Arts Fail of the Week: Defeat Attackers By Staring At Them and Stop Swords With Your Mind

Another weekend means another Martial Arts Fail of the Week!

Today we have a Bullshido master who’s EVEN WORSE than the Finnish chi master who telepathically subdued his foes.

His name is Masanori Abe, and his powers are so lethal he can drop you to the canvas with just a stare! Watch the above video for proof.

This guy is also a master swordsman–and not through years of training and lightning-quick reflexes, but through magic. In the below video, watch him stop his opponent’s training swords through pure mental fortitude. Check it out after the jump.

Another weekend means another Martial Arts Fail of the Week!

Today we have a Bullshido master who’s EVEN WORSE than the Finnish chi master who telepathically subdued his foes.

His name is Masanori Abe, and his powers are so lethal he can drop you to the canvas with just a stare! Watch the above video for proof. Rumor has it he developed this technique by watching Care Bears.

This guy is also a master swordsman–and due to years of training and lightning-quick reflexes, but through magic. In the below video, watch him stop his opponent’s training swords through pure mental fortitude:

What’s his story? Well, we’re not sure. His Facebook page has been around for less than a month, and a Google search yielded nothing. All we found was the Facebook page, his YouTube videos, and other Facebook pages linking to the videos. Weird.

To borrow Brian Kilmeade’s words about Scott Morris at UFC 2, “We don’t know much about him, because he is a ninja.”

We don’t know much about Abe because he’s a mysterious chi master. He probably lives atop a mountain, and only trains those with the determination and mettle to reach the summit. By that, we mean he probably drives a truck and will teach anyone whose checks cash.

If the garbled translations Facebook offered are anything to go by, he apparently teaches at a place called Kenmochi Martial Arts Center in Kama, Japan. We Googled this and nothing appeared. Maybe only those with the heart of a pure martial artist can see the website. Who knows.

For what it’s worth, here’s a passage from their Facebook page, translation via Facebook:

To the facebook page of the Japan kenmochi martial arts center-flow military family Association Headquarters there.

Japan Kobudo preservation association and the military family Association on mental martial arts through the ancient martial arts of Japan with 1300 years of history “to bow beginning to end with general education, intended to bequeath to future generations the spirit and skills together with the sound development of the mind and body. “The aim of the Japanese Old Martial Arts Studying and Training Association is bring the body and spirit up healthy with training and studying the spirit and culture of Samurai Budo as”the a of with end and with Start a bow bow”based on the history of more than 1,300 years and to pass those spirits and arts to the future. Can tour? s introduction of recruiting”Division training and experience. ? Wed-Fri 19: 30-21: 00 Sun 13:30-17:00 ? Japan kenmochi martial arts center-flow military family of Soke Shihan Okuma Shigenobu

Yeah, not the clearest. Perhaps deciphering the Engrish is just another part of the test to determine whether you’re worthy of learning the techniques.

Keep in mind this dude’s stuff is so ridiculous he MAY be doing a parody of a Bullshido guy. Then again, there were people legitimately trying to present Balinese White Magic as the world’s greatest martial art, so you never know. We’re going to keep looking for information and see if this is a real thing or just a parody. In the mean time, check out another video of him destroying his students with the Force:

By the way, this edition comes from a tip sent by Cameron D. Thanks, Cameron!

If you see any video that’s good (or bad) enough to make the cut, let us know! Send it to [email protected].

Willie Nelson Earns Fifth-Degree Black Belt in a Martial Art You’ve Never Heard Of

(Props: USA Today)

GongKwon Yusul is a modern Korean martial art system that “emphasizes the application of striking, locking and throwing techniques in practical, free-flowing fighting situations,” and is influenced by Western boxing and the grappling techniques of judo and jiu-jitsu. Until this morning, I’d never heard of it. But apparently, 81-year-old country music legend Willie Nelson has been studying it for 20 years and just got his fifth-degree black belt in the martial art in Monday. Luckily, the video above doesn’t portray GongKwon Yusul as a Martial Arts Fail of the Week-worthy embarrassment, though we can’t help feeling a little skeptical when Willie discusses the board-breaking involved in the belt tests.

Whatever keeps the Red Headed Stranger happy and active is fine by us. That being said, we will go to our graves defending the superiority of Kuk Sool Won.

(Props: USA Today)

Whatever keeps the Red Headed Stranger happy and active is fine by us. That being said, we will go to our graves defending the superiority of Kuk Sool Won.

Martial Arts Fail of the Week: This Makes Point Fighting Look Like Frye-Takayama

Remember last week’s Martial Arts Fail–the one with the worst karate demo known to man?

This week, we have a follow-up to that video in the form of a sparring match between two black belts from what appears to be the same school. That’s right, a sleuthing member of Reddit unearthed the dojo’s identity. Apparently, this Taekwondo McDojo is called the World Martial Arts Association and is headquartered in Brooklyn. If the words of an anonymous Redditor who claims to have once been a student can be believed, they charge $40 a class, and $600 per belt test. Here’s the full thread on Reddit, in case you’re interested in this sort of thing.

The funniest (or saddest) part, however, isn’t on Reddit or YouTube, but on the school’s own website…

Remember last week’s Martial Arts Fail–the one with the worst karate demo known to man?

The funniest (or saddest) part, however, isn’t on Reddit or YouTube, but on the school’s own website. It’s the obviously self-written bio for the school’s headmaster, which ends with the lines “He never hesitates to say that he brings his martial arts acumen to all these endeavors. He has been called by some a ‘Renaissance man.’” Wow. How’s that for pomposity?

And about the video? It pretty much speaks for itself. It’s atrocious non-fighting with some Street Fighter music passed off as legitimate martial arts. That kind of crap makes point-fighting look like some of MMA’s most physical brawls.

If you see any video that’s good (or bad) enough to make the cut, let us know! Send it to [email protected].

Martial Arts Fail of the Week: How to Stomp Out a Wrestler

Remember those idiots who taught us BJJ’s five fatal weaknesses (spaz punches and bright red pants being chief among them)?

Well, they’re back. This time, the same “school”—Combatant Extreme Self Defense—is taking on wrestling.

And it’s legit…or at least legit in the sense that the guys who peddle this crap actually believe it works. It doesn’t though. There are more things wrong with this takedown “defense” than are wrong with Vitor Belfort‘s sudden removal from his UFC 173 title bout against Chris Weidman. Let’s just say this: Count yourself lucky if you wind up in a street fight with a “wrestler” who opts to grab your rear leg on a single leg takedown, let alone make thousands of other mistakes.

Stay tuned for next week’s traditional martial art’s fail, where another favorite from the past will be telling us how to defeat boxing with deadly street smarts.

If you see any video that’s good (or bad) enough to make the cut, let us know! Send it to [email protected].

Remember those idiots who taught us BJJ’s five fatal weaknesses (spaz punches and bright red pants being chief among them)?

They’re back. This time, the same “school”—Combatant Extreme Self Defense—is taking on wrestling.

Stay tuned for next week’s traditional martial art’s fail, where another favorite from the past will be telling us how to defeat boxing with deadly street smarts.

If you see any video that’s good (or bad) enough to make the cut, let us know! Send it to [email protected].