Jean-Claude Van Damme Biography

Jean-Claude Van Damme (born October 18, 1960) is a Belgian martial artist, and actor who is best known for his large catalogue of action movies. His Belgian background combined with his physique gave rise to his nickname The Muscles from Brussels. Van Damme has also been called the "King of the Belgians" due to his international superstardom.

Biography

Early life

Van Damme was born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Vaerenbergh (also spelled Varenburg) in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe (Brussels), Belgium, the son of Eliana and Eugène Van Vaerenbergh, who was an accountant and owned a flower shop. He began martial arts at the age of ten, enrolled by his father in a shotokan karate school. He eventually earned his black belt in karate, later winning the European Professional Karate Association's middleweight championship in a stunning upset vs. the former champion Michael J. Heming (although he has claimed that he was "twice world champion" ). He also started lifting weights to improve his physique, which eventually led to a Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title. 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."

Fight career

Van Damme's karate teacher and coach was Master Claude Goetz. According to an article written by Don Warrener for FIGHTINGARTS, Goetz is one of the pioneers 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, along with Shotokan Karate.

In 1976, at the age of 16, Jean-Claude made his semi-contact debut under his birth name, Jean Claude Van Vaerenbergh. Fighting at an event sanctioned by the European Karate Union (EKU) in Brussels, Jean-Claude overcame a shakey 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 serious 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. Now 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 first round victories over countrymen Emile Leibman and Cyrille Nollet by points. The WAKO was formed in Europe in 1975, under the leadership of Germany's George Bruckner and Mike Anderson of the United States. Brucker was based in Berlin, Germany and was a tae-kwon-do and karate instructor. Officially the WAKO classified its full-contact promotions as amateur, however, 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 victories 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 syle 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 69kg. division. On November 3rd,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) Diaz 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 April 2, 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 March 8, 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.

However, 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 (13 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. This was due Van Damme's having spent his entire full-contact career under his birth name of Van Varenberg.

Early films

Van Damme co-appeared with Franco Bocchimuzzo, who competed with Dolph Lundgren for the part of Ivan Drago in Rocky.

Health

Van Damme had troubles with cocaine during 1995, entering a month-long rehab program in 1996 but leaving it only after a week. He is also reported to have experienced bipolar disorder. A turning point in his health issues came in late 1997, after having signed divorce papers charging him with spousal abuse, and drug addiction.
“     The former action hero says he had bipolar disorder but didn't know it until he became suicidal. He was diagnosed with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder and was placed on sodium valproate, which he calls "that simple salt".     ”

On-screen nudity

Van Damme has had nude appearances in many of his films, though his nudity has only been shown from the rear. He first appeared nude in Bloodsport, with numerous such appearances in his subsequent films, including a lengthy one in Universal Soldier.

Van Damme has expressed pride in his body and especially his posterior, often citing the appeal of his body. Van Damme is on record as saying, "If you have a decent body why not show it?" This was the subject of parody in the television show Friends, where Van Damme, guest-starring as himself, tells Rachel and Monica that "I can crush a walnut with my butt."

An "abstract thinker"

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, ecology, etc.) in a sort of Zen franglais. 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.

Personal life

Van Damme has been married five times, including two marriages with his current wife, bodybuilder and fitness competitor Gladys Portugues. Van Damme has 3 children: Kristopher born 1987, Nicholas born 1995, and Bianca born 1990.

Spouses:

    * Gladys Portugues (25 June 1999 - Present)
    * Darcy LaPier (3 February 1994 - November 1997) (divorced) 1 child
    * Gladys Portugues (3 January 1987 - 1992) (divorced) 2 children
    * Cynthia Derderian (24 August 1985 - 1986) (divorced)
    * Maria Rodriguez (25 August 1980 - 1984) (divorced)

Trivia

    * Likes classical music and his favorite composer is Beethoven.

    * He has a holiday home in Westport, Ireland, and frequently visits the area.

    * He is an avid Bee Keeper.

    * The Mortal Kombat character Johnny Cage was modeled after him. Interestingly, Van Damme turned down the part of Johnny Cage in the Mortal Kombat movie (originally intended for Brandon Lee before his untimely death) to play Guile in Street Fighter.

    * Despite high belief, professional wrestler Rob Van Dam is not related to him.

    * He is a fan of Fedor Emelianenko and has been seen at fedors fights.


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     Fight Klub     Karate Man     Levy, William A.William A. Levy
1985     No Retreat, No Surrender     Ivan Krushensky     Yuen, CoreyCorey Yuen
1988     Black Eagle     Andrei     Carson, EricEric Carson
1988     Bloodsport     Frank Dux     Arnold, NewtNewt Arnold
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     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
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     J.C.V.D.     Himself     El Mechri, MabroukMabrouk El Mechri
2009     Full Love     Himself     Van Damme Jean-Claude Van Damme

Jean-Claude Van Damme Pictures ( 38 Pictures)

Jean-Claude Van Damme Interest