Christine Bannon-Rodrigues is an American martial artist, actress, stunt person, and choreographer. A student of Don Rodrigues, Bannon-Rodrigues is a 9th degree black belt, she holds 9 World Championships, including consecutive 3-time World Titles at the W.A.K.O. Games.
Bannon-Rodrigues has acted for both film and television, including the feature films Sci-Fighter (aka X-Treme Fighter) and 27 Dresses. Her stunt work can be seen in a number of Hollywood productions, including Underdog, Batman and Robin, and The Next Karate Kid. Christine has appeared on television in WMAC Masters, and Mortal Kombat Annihilation.
In 2012 Christine did the martial arts choreography for the film Champions of the Deep (2012). Christine teaches at the Don Rodrigues Karate Academy, where she is a co-owner with Shihan Don Rodrigues.
When Christine Bannon Rodrigues first bowed in she was 13 years old. At the time the Rhode Island teenager never realized that she would one-day reign supreme as one of the super stars in the world of martial arts. Christine studied Kenpo and Wu shu, earning her black belt at age 17. She quickly became the person to beat in fighting, forms and weapons. A formidable competitor Christine was a triple threat wherever she went. Her skill as a fighter was proven time and time again, and in forms and weapons Christine was unstoppable.
In 1991 Christine astounded the martial arts world by becoming a Triple Crown winner at the WAKO World Championships in England. “I won three gold medals in forms, fighting and weapons,” Christine recalled. “Everyone thought it was a freak occurrence and that I was just lucky. That got me worked up so I decided to prove my critics wrong, so in 1993 I did it again.”
After winning her second Triple Crown she turned her talents and efforts into becoming a TV and movie star. Martial arts legend and action choreographer Pat Johnson hired Christine to double the star in “The Next Karate Kid.” This led to roles in Mortal Kombat, WMAC Masters where she starred as “Lady Lightning and she stunt doubled Alicia Silverstone (Batgirl) in “Batman and Robin.”
Christine has also been featured on the cover of every major martial arts magazine in the world and she has written and starred in more than seven instructional videotapes. She is also the darling of the trading card set, being featured in the 1992 John Paul Mitchell National Karate Team Premier edition, Karate Kards, Sport Karate Champions, Martial Arts Masters Trading Cards, Premier Edition and the International Card Collection of Athletes medallion collection.
With an eye on the future, Christine says that the Black Belt Registry will be of great benefit to all martial artists, “The access it gives us (martial artists) access to everything from training tapes to gear and so much more it is amazing,” she says. “One of the things I use it for is finding authentic Chinese weapons. The Internet and the WorldBlackBelt.com is going to take martial arts to its next level.”
Films by Christine Bannon-Rodrigues
| Year | Film/Television | Role |
| 1994 | The Next Karate Kid Stunt Double | Hilary Swank |
| 1996 | WMAC Masters | Lady Lightning |
| 2004 | Sci-Fighter | Virus |
| 2012 | Champions of the Deep | Choreographer |
Championships and Accomplishments of Christine Bannon-Rodrigues
- 1999 W.A.K.O. Pro World Champion Women’s Lightweight Fighting
- 1995 W.A.K.O. Pro World Champion Women’s Lightweight Fighting
- 1993 W.A.K.O. World Champion Women’s Lightweight Fighting
- 1993 W.A.K.O. World Champion Women’s Soft Style Forms
- 1993 W.A.K.O. World Champion Women’s Weapons
- 1991 W.A.K.O. World Champion Women’s Lightweight Fighting
- 1991 W.A.K.O. World Champion Women’s Soft Style Forms
- 1991 W.A.K.O. World Champion Women’s Weapons
- 1990 W.A.K.O. World Champion Women’s Forms
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