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Jean-Claude Van Damme
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Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Statistics
Realname
Jean-Claude Camille Francois Van Varenbergh
Nickname
The Muscles From Brussels
Height
5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m)
Weight
185 lbs (84 kg)
Nationality
Belgium
Birth date
18 October 1960 (1960-10-18) (age 48)
Birth place
Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Brussels, Belgium
Style
Kickboxing, Shotokan Karate
Team
Team Goetz
Kickboxing Record
Total fights
19
Wins
18
Wins by KO
18
Losses
1
Draws
0
No contests
0
Jean-Claude Van Damme (born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg 18 October 1960(1960-10-18)) is a Belgian martial artist and actor who is best known for martial arts and action movies, the most successful being Bloodsport and Kickboxer. His Belgian background and his physique furnish his nickname The Muscles from Brussels.
Contents[hide]
1 Early life
2 Fight career
3 Personal life
4 Kickboxing/Full-Contact/Semi-Contact Record: 18-1 (18 Knockouts)
5 Filmography
6 Further reading
7 See also
8 References
9 External links
//

[edit] Early life
Van Damme was born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg[1] (also spelled Varenburg)[2] in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe (Brussels), Belgium, the son of Eliana and Eugène Van Vaerenbergh, who was an accountant and owned a flower shop.[3][4] He began martial arts at the age of ten, enrolled by his father in a shotokan karate school.[5] He eventually earned his black belt in karate,[6] later winning the European Professional Karate Association's middleweight championship in a stunning upset vs. the former champion Michael J. Heming[5] (although he has claimed that he was "twice world champion"[7]). He also started lifting weights to improve his physique, which eventually led to a Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title.[8] At the age of 16 he took up ballet, which he studied for five years. He says of ballet that it "is an art, but it's also one of the most difficult sports. If you can survive a ballet workout, you can survive a workout in any other sport."[9]

[edit] Fight career

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2007)
Van Damme's karate teacher and coach was Master Claude Goetz. According to an article written by Don Warrener for FIGHTINGARTS, Goetz is a pioneer of European karate and studied under Tsutomu Oshima, a disciple of Gichin Funakoshi. Jean-Claude studied in Goetz's dojo in Brussels, Belgium. Under Goetz's guidance, Van Damme developed an impressive array of kicks and strikes. Van Damme has also studied Taekwondo and Muay Thai.
In 1976, at the age of 16, Jean-Claude made his semi-contact debut under his birth name, Jean Claude Van Varenbergh. Fighting at an event sanctioned by the European Karate Union (EKU) in Brussels, Jean-Claude overcame a shaky start to stop fellow-countryman, Toon van Oostrum in 46 seconds. Knockouts were prohibited under the rules; however, van Oostrum quit and the result was listed as "stoppage 0:46". Master Goetz realized his young pupil needed more schooling before he was ready to compete again.
In 1978, after two years of training, 18 year old Jean-Claude entered his first EKU tournament in Antwerp, Belgium (under "full-Contact" rules) in the Beginner's Division. Equipped with more confidence and skill, Jean-Claude had little trouble in winning the tournament. He scored three victories; an 18 second knockout over German-born prospect Eric "Basel" Strauss, a 39 second stoppage over Michel Juvillier (Juvillier quit), and a 12 second stoppage of Orlando Lang.
Two months later at a tournament in Izegem, Belgium, sanctioned by the World-All Styles Karate Organization (WAKO), Van Damme won his first "Semi-Contact" championship in the Beginners Category. He scored stoppage victories over countrymen Emile Leibman and Cyrille Nollet. The WAKO was formed in Europe in 1975, under the leadership of Germany's George Bruckner and Mike Anderson of the United States. Bruckner was based in Berlin, Germany and was a tae-kwon-do and karate instructor. Officially the WAKO classified its full-contact promotions as amateur, competitors were given substantial "training fees". The WAKO held their world tournaments in both Long Beach, California and Tampa, Florida (some sources incorrectly list Orlando, Florida) in the 1970s.
Fighting under the WAKO sanctioning body, Van Damme scored stoppages over Andre Robaeys, Jacques Piniarski, and Rolf Risberg; under WAKO rules which differed from those in the United States. Judo throws, footsweeps were permitted, although thigh kicks were not. There were no minimum kick requirements, and bouts were sometimes held on an open mat, instead of a roped ring. World Title bouts lasted six rounds, while contender bouts lasted five. Once a year, top competitors were required to participate in two-round, tournament-style eliminations to determine the year's top ten in each division.
In November, 1979, Jean-Claude Van Damme took his 10-0 record to Tampa, Florida to compete in the 2nd WAKO World Championships at Hillsborough Community College (promoted by Mike Anderson). Competing in the Men's Fighting Category, Jean-Claude entered the 69 kg. division. On 3 November, in his first tournament match (scheduled for 2-2 minute rounds)he met Sherman Bergman from Miami Beach, Florida (USA). After being knocked down early in the match, Van Damme scored a 1st round victory when Bergman was unable to continue. In his next match, Van Damme defeated Portugal's Gilberto (Gil) Dias in the first round after Diaz quit due to injury. In the quarter-finals, Van Damme lost a 2-round decision to fellow countryman, Patrick Teugels.
Returning to Europe, Van Damme fought in a two independent events sanctioned by the European Professional Karate Association (EPKA), in which he knocked out Algeria's Mustapha Ahmad Benamou and Bekim Moussa Muhammad. According to a 2 April 1989 article in the San Francisco Chronicle by John Stanley, Van Damme scored an upset victory over former European Middeweight Full-Contact Champion Michael J. Heming of England in 1980.
Van Damme's big break came on 8 March 1980 in Brussels, Belgium, on a Professional Karate Association (PKA) event, in which France's Dominique Valera met the United States, Dan Macaruso for the PKA World Heavyweight Kickboxing Title. After Macaruso defeated Valera by 6th round knockout, Van Damme knocked out France's Georges Verlugels in 2 rounds to win the "Professional" European Middleweight Kickboxing Championship.
According to an article written by Mike Anders, founder of Professional Karate Magazine, based on his victory over Verlugels, " Van Damme was definitely an upcoming prospect." Multiple European Full-Contact Champion Geet Lemmens supported Anders opinion.
By now, Van Damme had his sights on a motion-picture career. Before he retired from active competition, he requested a rematch with Patrick Teugels, the only man to defeat him. Teugels was now rated 2nd in the world in the middleweight division by the WAKO. The rematch in Brussels was scheduled for 5 two-minute rounds. At the bell, Van Damme came out punching and kicking. His overwhelming aggression was too much for Teugels and the match was halted in under the 2-minute mark (A video of this fight now appears on aol.videos.) Following the victory, Jean-Claude retired from active competition with a 18-1 (18 knockouts) record.
Once his film stardom took off, controversy arose regarding Van Damme's fight career. Researchers were unable to uncover any of Van Damme's matches. Van Damme had spent his entire full-contact career under his birth name of Van Varenberg.

[edit] Personal life
In the French-speaking world, Van Damme is well known for the picturesque aphorisms that he delivers on a wide range of topics (personal well-being, the environment, etc.) in a sort of Zen franglais. [10] Most iconic and often quoted was his repeated use of the English word aware during an interview for a French channel, to convey the notion of self-awareness as a key to success.
Van Damme has been married five times, including two marriages with his current wife, bodybuilder and fitness competitor Gladys Portuguese. Van Damme has 3 children: Kristopher born 1987, Nicholas born 1995, and Bianca born 1990.
Spouses:
Darcy LaPier: 3 February 1994 - November 1997 (divorced, 1 child)
Gladys Portuguese: 3 January 1987 - 1992 (divorced); 25 June 1999 - present (2 children)
Cynthia Derderian: 24 August 1985 - 1986 (divorced)
Maria Rodriguez: 25 August 1980 - 1984 (divorced)

[edit] Kickboxing/Full-Contact/Semi-Contact Record: 18-1 (18 Knockouts)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2008)
Year
Opponent
Event
Result
Method
Location
1977
Toon Van Oostrum
European Karate Union(EKU) Event (semi-contact)
won
stoppage 1 round
Brussels, Belgium
1977
Maurice Devos
Netherlands Kickboxing Federation (NKBB)
won
knockout 1 round
Antwerp, Belgium
1978
Eric Bruno Strauss
European Karate Union (EKU)Tournament
won
stoppage 1 round
Antwerp, Belgium
1978
Michel Juvillier
European Karate Union(EKU) Tournament
won
stoppage 1 round
Antwerp, Belgium
1978
Orlando Lang
European Karate Union(EKU) Open Tournament
won
technical knockout 1 round
Antwerp, Belgium
1978
Emile Leibman
World All-Style Karate Organization (WAKO)Tournament(semi-contact)
won
stoppage 1 round
Iseghem, Belgium
1978
Cyrille Nollet
World All-Style Karate Organization(WAKO) Tournament(semi-contact)
won
stoppage 1 round
Iseghem, Belgium
1979
Andre Robaeys
World All-Style Karate Organization((WAKO) promotion (semi-contact)
won
stoppage 1 round
Brussels, Belgium
1979
Jacques Piniarski
World All-Style Karate Organization (WAKO)promotion (semi-contact)
won
stoppage 1 round
Brussels, Belgium
1979
Rolf Risberg
World-All Style Karate Organization (WAKO) promotion (semi-contact)
won
stoppage 1 round
Brussels, Belgium
1979
Sherman Bergman
2nd WAKO World Championships(Men's Semi-Contact 69kg)
won
stoppage 1 round
Tampa, Florida
1979
Gilberto (Gil) Diaz
2nd WAKO World Championships(Men's Semi-Contact 69kg)
won
stoppage 1 round
Tampa, Florida
1979
Patrick Teugels
2nd WAKO World Championships(Men's Semi-Contact 69kg)
Lost
Decision 2 rounds
Tampa, Florida
1980
Mustapha-Ahmad Benamou
European Professional Karate Association (EPKA) promotion
won
knockout 1 round
Brussels, Belgium
1980
Bekim-Moussa Muhammad
European Professional Karate Association (EPKA) promotion
won
technical knockout 1 round
Brussels, Belgium
1980
Micheal J. Heming
European Professional Karate Association (EPKA) promotion
won
technical knockout 2 rounds
Brussels, Belgium
1980(03/08)
Georges Verlugels
Professional Karate Association (PKA) promotion
won
knockout 2 rounds
Brussels, Belgium
1980
Andres Kovac
European Professional Karate Association (EPKA)
won
knockout 2 rounds
Brussels, Belgium
1980
Patrick Teugels
WAKO Tournament
won
stoppage 1 round
Brussels, Belgium

[edit] Filmography
Year
Title
Role
Director
1983
Rue Barbare
Background performer (police arrival sequence)
Behat, GillesGilles Behat
1984
Breakin'
Guy dancing in the background
Silberg, JoelJoel Silberg
1984
Monaco Forever
Gay Karate Man
Levy, William A.William A. Levy
1985
No Retreat, No Surrender
Ivan Krushensky
Yuen, CoreyCorey Yuen
1988
Bloodsport
Frank Dux
Arnold, NewtNewt Arnold
1988
Black Eagle
Andrei
Carson, EricEric Carson
1989
Cyborg
Gibson Rickenbacker
Pyun, AlbertAlbert Pyun
1989
Kickboxer
Kurt Sloane
DiSalle, MarkMark DiSalle, David Worth
1990
Death Warrant
Louis Burke
Serafian, DeranDeran Serafian
1990
Lionheart (AKA AWOL, Wrong Bet)
Lyon Gaultier
Lettich, SheldonSheldon Lettich
1991
Double Impact
Alex Wagner/Chad Wagner
Lettich, SheldonSheldon Lettich
1992
Universal Soldier
Luc Deveraux/GR44
Emmerich, RolandRoland Emmerich
1993
Hard Target
Chance Boudreaux
Woo, JohnJohn Woo
1993
Last Action Hero
Cameo Appearance
McTiernan, JohnJohn McTiernan
1993
Nowhere to Run
Sam Gillen
Harmon, RobertRobert Harmon
1994
Street Fighter
Colonel William F. Guile
de Souza, Steven E.Steven E. de Souza
1994
Timecop
Max Walker
Hyams, PeterPeter Hyams
1995
Sudden Death
Darren McCord
Hyams, PeterPeter Hyams
1995
Friends
Himself
Crane, DavidDavid Crane
1996
Maximum Risk
Alain Moreau/Mikhail Suverov
Lam, RingoRingo Lam
1996
The Quest
Christopher Dubois
Van Damme Jean-Claude Van Damme
1997
Double Team
Jack Quinn
Hark, TsuiTsui Hark
1998
Legionnaire
Alain Lefevre
MacDonald, PeterPeter MacDonald
1998
Knock Off
Marcus Ray
Hark, TsuiTsui Hark
1999
Desert Heat
Eddie Lomax
Avildsen, John G.John G. Avildsen
1999
Universal Soldier: The Return
Luc Devereaux
Rodgers, MicMic Rodgers
2001
The Order
Rudy Cafmeyer/Charles Le Vaillant
Lettich, SheldonSheldon Lettich
2001
Replicant
Edward "The Torch" Garrotte/Replicant
Lam, RingoRingo Lam
2002
Derailed
Jacques Kristoff
Misiorowski, BobBob Misiorowski
2003
In Hell
Kyle LeBlanc
Lam, RingoRingo Lam
2004
Wake of Death
Ben Archer
Martinez, PhillipePhillipe Martinez
2004
Narco
Jean's Ghost by Lenny
Aurouet, TristanTristan Aurouet, Gilles Lellouche
2006
The Hard Corps
Phillip Sauvage
Lettich, SheldonSheldon Lettich
2006
Second in Command
Sam Keenan
Fellows, SimonSimon Fellows
2006
Sınav
Charles
Sorak, Omer FarukOmer Faruk Sorak
2007
Until Death
Anthony Stowe
Fellows, SimonSimon Fellows
2008
The Shepherd: Border Patrol
Jack Robideaux
Florentine, IsaacIsaac Florentine
2008
JCVD
JCVD
El Mechri, MabroukMabrouk El Mechri
2009
Full Love[11]
Frenchy
Van Damme Jean-Claude Van Damme
2009
Universal Soldier III: A New Beginning
Luc Deveraux
Van Damme had also worked for director John McTiernan for the 1987 Movie Predator as the titular alien before being removed and replaced by Kevin Peter Hall.

[edit] Further reading
WAKO: MARTIAL ARTS (Traditions, History, People, by John Corcoran & Emil Farkas. Gallery Books, W.H. Smith Publishers, Inc. 112 Madison, New York City 10016. 1988. Pages: 60, 265.
PKA World Heavyweight Title: MARTIAL ARTS, by John Corcoran & Emil Farkas. 1988. Pages: 285-286.
EKU: MARTIAL ARTS, by John Corcoran & Emil Farkas. 1988. Pages: 210, 393.
Inside Kung-Fu Presents: Martial Artists One on One, March 1990: Jean-Claude Van Damme, pages 16-25, by John Steven Soet.
KarateKung-Fu Illustrated:April, 1991, Gunning for Van Damme, by Tim Vandehey.
Xuat Tinh Som (Tre Today News), 31 December 2007: Jean-Claude Van Damme.

[edit] See also
List of male kickboxers

[edit] References
^ Not over the Undertaker. (The Fans Speak Out). Wrestling Digest (, 2003)
^ 'Sudden Death' star Jean-Claude Van Damme isn't so tough - just ask him. Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service (, 1995)
^ Jean-Claude Van Damme Biography (1960-)
^ Jean-Claude van Damme Biography - Yahoo! Movies
^ a b Belgian Bruiser Muscles Into B-Movie Scene ', John Stanley, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 April 1989
^ Karate black belt)
^ 'Van Damme speaks language of karate', Louis B Parks, Houston Chronicle, 29 April 1988
^ 'Playboy interview', Lawrence Grobel, Playboy, January 1, 1995
^ 'Van Damme gets his kicks from acting now, not karate', Jae-Ha Kim, Chicago Sun-Times, 14 April 1989
^ Abstract Thinker
^ Jean-Claude Van Damme Re-Evaluates Career - Movie News Story MTV Movie News