Embu-Guaçu and Jean-Claude Van Damme: Difference between pages

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{{redirect|Van Damme}}
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{{Infobox_Kickboxer
'''Embu-Guaçu''' is a municipality in the state of [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]] in [[Brazil]]. The population in 2006 is 72,170 and the area is 155 km². The elevation is 408.22 m.
| name = Jean-Claude Van Damme

| image=Jean-Claude_Van_Damme.jpg
{{Geographic Location
| imagesize=230px
| Centre = Embu-Guaçu
| caption = Jean-Claude Van Damme
| North = [[Itapecerica da Serra]]
| realname= Jean-Claude Camille Francois Van Vaerenbergh
| Northeast =
| nickname= The Muscles From Brussels
| East = [[São Paulo]]
| weight= 185 lbs (84 kg)
| Southeast =
| nationality= {{flagicon|BEL}} Belgium
| South = [[Juquitiba]]
| height= 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m)
| Southwest =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|18}}
| West = [[São Lourenço da Serra]]
| birth_place = [[Sint-Agatha-Berchem]], [[Brussels]], [[Belgium]]
| Northwest =
| team = Team Goetz
| style= [[Kickboxing]]
| total=19
| wins= 18
| KO= 18
| losses= 1
| draws= 0
| no contests= 0
}}
}}
'''Jean-Claude Van Damme''' (born [[October 18]], [[1960]]) is a [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[martial arts|martial artist]], and [[actor]] who is best known for his large catalogue of [[action movie]]s. His Belgian background combined with his physique gave rise to his [[nickname]] '''The Muscles from Brussels'''.

==Biography==
===Early life===
Van Damme was born '''Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg'''<ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-2738820_ITM Not over the Undertaker. (The Fans Speak Out). | Wrestling Digest (, 2003)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> (also spelled '''Varenburg''')<ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/premium/0286/0286-6354405.html 'Sudden Death' star Jean-Claude Van Damme isn't so tough - just ask him. | Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service (, 1995)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> in [[Berchem-Sainte-Agathe]] ([[Brussels]]), [[Belgium]], the son of Eliana and Eugène Van Vaerenbergh, who was an accountant and owned a flower shop.<ref>[http://www.filmreference.com/film/93/Jean-Claude-Van-Damme.html Jean-Claude Van Damme Biography (1960-)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800019806/bio Jean-Claude van Damme Biography - Yahoo! Movies<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He began martial arts at the age of ten, enrolled by his father in a [[shotokan karate]] school.<ref name="sfchronicle">Belgian Bruiser Muscles Into B-Movie Scene ', John Stanley, ''San Francisco Chronicle'', [[2 April]] [[1989]]</ref> He eventually earned his [[Black belt (martial arts)|black belt]] in [[karate]],<ref>[http://www.jeanclaudevandamme.net/articles.htm Karate black belt])</ref> later winning the European Professional Karate Association's middleweight championship in a stunning upset vs. the former champion [[Michael J. Heming]]<ref name="sfchronicle" /> (although he has claimed that he was "twice world champion"<ref name="houston">'Van Damme speaks language of karate', Louis B Parks, ''Houston Chronicle'', [[29 April]] [[1988]]</ref>).
He also started lifting weights to improve his physique, which eventually led to a Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title.<ref name="playboy">'Playboy interview', Lawrence Grobel, ''Playboy'', [[1 January]] [[1995]]</ref> 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."<ref name="chicagost">'Van Damme gets his kicks from acting now, not karate', Jae-Ha Kim, ''Chicago Sun-Times'', [[14 April]] [[1989]]</ref>

===Fight career===
{{Refimprove|date=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 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 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, 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 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 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 (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. This was due Van Damme's having spent his entire full-contact career under his birth name of Van Varenberg.



===Health===

Van Damme had troubles with [[cocaine]] during [[1995]], entering a month-long rehab program in [[1996]] but leaving it only after a week.<ref name="cocaine">[http://bipolar.about.com/cs/celebs/a/jeanclaude.htm Jean-Claude Van Damme - Actor Has Bipolar Disorder<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He is also reported to have experienced [[bipolar disorder]].<ref name="cocaine" /> A turning point in his health issues came in late [[1997]], after having signed divorce papers charging him with spousal abuse, and drug addiction.

{{Cquote|''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".''||||[[Australian]] Woman's Day}}

===On-screen nudity===
Van Damme has had [[Nudity in film|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 language|French]]-speaking world, Van Damme is well known for the [http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jean-Claude_Van_Damme picturesque aphorisms] that he delivers on a wide range of topics (personal well-being, the environment, etc.) in a sort of [[Zen]] [[franglais]]. <ref>[http://blog.eurnet.fr/index.php/2006/07/11/139-les-citations-du-jour-selon-jean-claude-van-damme Abstract Thinker]</ref> 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]]: 3 January 1987 - 1992 (divorced)&nbsp;&nbsp;''and''&nbsp;&nbsp;25 June 1999 - present (2 children)
* [[Darcy LaPier]]: 3 February 1994 - November 1997 (divorced, 1 child)
* [[Cynthia Derderian]]: 24 August 1985 - 1986 (divorced)
* [[Maria Rodriguez (other)|Maria Rodriguez]]: 25 August 1980 - 1984 (divorced)



==Kickboxing/Full-Contact/Semi-Contact Record: 18-1 (18 Knockouts)==
{{Refimprove|date=March 2008}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Opponent!! Event !! Result !! Method!! Location
|-
| 1977 ||{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Toon Van Oostrum]]||European Karate Union(EKU) Event (semi-contact) || won ||stoppage 1 round || [[Brussels]], Belgium
|-
| 1977 ||{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Maurice Devos]]||Netherlands Kickboxing Federation (NKBB) || won || knockout 1 round || Antwerp, Belgium
|-
| 1978 ||{{flagicon|GER}} [[Eric Bruno Strauss]]||European Karate Union (EKU)Tournament || won ||stoppage 1 round || [[Antwerp]], Belgium
|-
| 1978 ||{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Michel Juvillier]]||European Karate Union(EKU) Tournament || won ||stoppage 1 round || Antwerp, Belgium
|-
| 1978 ||{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Orlando Lang]]||European Karate Union(EKU) Open Tournament || won || technical knockout 1 round || Antwerp, Belgium
|-
| 1978 ||{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Emile Leibman]]||World All-Style Karate Organization (WAKO)Tournament(semi-contact)|| won ||stoppage 1 round || [[Iseghem, Belgium]]
|-
| 1978 || {{flagicon|BEL}}[[Cyrille Nollet]]||World All-Style Karate Organization(WAKO) Tournament(semi-contact)|| won ||stoppage 1 round || Iseghem, Belgium
|-
| 1979 || {{flagicon|BEL}}[[Andre Robaeys]]||World All-Style Karate Organization((WAKO) promotion (semi-contact)|| won ||stoppage 1 round || Brussels, Belgium
|-
| 1979 ||{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Jacques Piniarski]]||World All-Style Karate Organization (WAKO)promotion (semi-contact)|| won ||stoppage 1 round || Brussels, Belgium
|-
| 1979 || {{flagicon|GER}}[[Rolf Risberg]]||World-All Style Karate Organization (WAKO) promotion (semi-contact)|| won ||stoppage 1 round || Brussels, Belgium
|-
| 1979 ||{{flagicon|USA}} [[Sherman Bergman]]||2nd WAKO World Championships(Men's Semi-Contact 69kg)|| won ||stoppage 1 round || [[Tampa, Florida]]
|-
| 1979 ||{{flagicon|POR}}[[Gilberto (Gil) Diaz]]||2nd WAKO World Championships(Men's Semi-Contact 69kg) || won ||stoppage 1 round || Tampa, Florida
|-
| 1979 ||{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Patrick Teugels]]||2nd WAKO World Championships(Men's Semi-Contact 69kg)|| lost|| decision 2 rounds|| Tampa, Florida
|-
|1980||{{flagicon|ALG}} [[Mustapha-Ahmad Benamou]]||European Professional Karate Association (EPKA) promotion||won|| knockout 1 round||Brussels, Belgium
|-
|1980||{{flagicon|ALG}} [[Bekim-Moussa Muhammad]]||European Professional Karate Association (EPKA) promotion||won|| technical knockout 1 round||Brussels, Belgium
|-
|1980||{{flagicon|ENG}}[[Micheal J. Heming]]||European Professional Karate Association (EPKA) promotion||won||technical knockout 2 rounds||Brussels, Belgium
|-
|1980(03/08)||{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Georges Verlugels]]||Professional Karate Association (PKA) promotion||won|| knockout 2 rounds||Brussels, Belgium
|-
| 1980||{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Andres Kovac]]||European Professional Karate Association (EPKA)||won|| knockout 2 rounds||Brussels, Belgium
|-
| 1980 ||{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Patrick Teugels]]||WAKO Tournament || won ||stoppage 1 round || Brussels, Belgium
|}

==Filmography==
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Director
|-
| [[1983 in film|1983]] || ''[[Rue Barbare]]'' || ''Background performer (police arrival sequence)'' || {{sortname|Gilles|Behat}}
|-
| [[1984 in film|1984]] || ''[[Breakin']]'' || ''Guy dancing in the background'' || {{sortname|Joel|Silberg}}
|-
| [[1984 in film|1984]] || ''[[Fight Klub]]'' || Karate Man'' || {{sortname|William A.|Levy}}
|-
| [[1984 in film|1984]] || ''[[Monaco Forever]]'' || Gay Karate Man'' || {{sortname|William A.|Levy}}
|-
| [[1985 in film|1985]] || ''[[No Retreat, No Surrender]]'' || ''Ivan Krushensky'' || {{sortname|Corey|Yuen}}
|-
| [[1988 in film|1988]] || ''[[Black Eagle (film)|Black Eagle]]'' || ''Andrei'' || {{sortname|Eric|Carson}}
|-
| [[1988 in film|1988]] || ''[[Bloodsport (film)|Bloodsport]]'' || ''[[Frank Dux]]'' || {{sortname|Newt|Arnold}}
|-
| [[1989 in film|1989]] || ''[[Cyborg (film)|Cyborg]]'' || ''Gibson Rickenbacker'' || {{sortname|Albert|Pyun}}
|-
| [[1989 in film|1989]] || ''[[Kickboxer (film)|Kickboxer]]'' || ''Kurt Sloane'' || {{sortname|Mark|DiSalle}}, [[David Worth]]
|-
| [[1990 in film|1990]] || ''[[Death Warrant]]'' || ''Louis Burke'' || {{sortname|Deran|Serafian}}
|-
| [[1990 in film|1990]] || ''[[Lionheart (film)|Lionheart]]'' || ''Lyon Gaultier'' || {{sortname|Sheldon|Lettich}}

----1990 AWOL

|-
| [[1991 in film|1991]] || ''[[Double Impact]]'' || ''Alex Wagner/Chad Wagner'' || {{sortname|Sheldon|Lettich}}
|-
| [[1992 in film|1992]] || ''[[Universal Soldier (1992 film)|Universal Soldier]]'' || ''Luc Deveraux/GR44'' || {{sortname|Roland|Emmerich}}
|-
| [[1993 in film|1993]] || ''[[Hard Target]]'' || ''Chance Boudreaux'' || {{sortname|John|Woo}}
|-
| [[1993 in film|1993]] || ''[[Last Action Hero]]'' || ''Cameo Appearance'' || {{sortname|John|McTiernan}}
|-
| [[1993 in film|1993]] || ''[[Nowhere to Run (film)|Nowhere to Run]]'' || ''Sam Gillen'' || {{sortname|Robert|Harmon}}
|-
| [[1994 in film|1994]] || ''[[Street Fighter (film)|Street Fighter]]'' || ''[[Guile (Street Fighter)|Colonel William F. Guile]]'' || {{sortname|Steven E.|de Souza}}
|-
| [[1994 in film|1994]] || ''[[Timecop]]'' || ''Max Walker'' || {{sortname|Peter|Hyams}}
|-
| [[1995 in film|1995]] || ''[[Sudden Death (film)|Sudden Death]]'' || ''Darren McCord'' || {{sortname|Peter|Hyams}}
|-
| [[1996 in film|1996]] || ''[[Maximum Risk]]'' || ''Alain Moreau/Mikhail Suverov'' || {{sortname|Ringo|Lam}}
|-
| [[1996 in film|1996]] || ''[[The Quest (film)|The Quest]]'' || ''Christopher Dubois'' || {{sort|Van Damme|Jean-Claude Van Damme}}
|-
| [[1997 in film|1997]] || ''[[Double Team (film)|Double Team]]'' || ''Jack Quinn'' || {{sortname|Tsui|Hark}}
|-
|-[[1998 in film|1998]] || ''[[Goodnight Mister Tom (film)|Goodnight Mister Tom]]'' || ''Vicar'' || {{sortname|Jack|Gold}}
|-
| [[1998 in film|1998]] || ''[[Legionnaire (film)|Legionnaire]]'' || ''Alain Lefevre'' || {{sortname|Peter|MacDonald}}
|-
| [[1998 in film|1998]] || ''[[Knock Off]]'' || ''Marcus Ray'' || {{sortname|Tsui|Hark}}
|-
| [[1999 in film|1999]] || '' [[Desert Heat (film)|Desert Heat]]'' || ''Eddie Lomax'' || {{sortname|John G.|Avildsen}}
|-
| [[1999 in film|1999]] || ''[[Universal Soldier: The Return]]'' || ''Luc Devereaux'' || {{sortname|Mic|Rodgers}}
|-
| [[2001 in film|2001]] || ''[[The Order (2001 film)|The Order]]'' || ''Rudy Cafmeyer/Charles Le Vaillant'' || {{sortname|Sheldon|Lettich}}
|-
| [[2001 in film|2001]] || ''[[Replicant (film)|Replicant]]'' || ''Edward "The Torch" Garrotte/Replicant'' || {{sortname|Ringo|Lam}}
|-
| [[2002 in film|2002]] || ''[[Derailed (2002 film)|Derailed]]'' || ''Jacques Kristoff'' || {{sortname|Bob|Misiorowski}}
|-
| [[2003 in film|2003]] || ''[[In Hell]]'' || ''Kyle LeBlanc'' || {{sortname|Ringo|Lam}}
|-
| [[2004 in film|2004]] || ''[[Wake of Death]]'' || ''Ben Archer'' || {{sortname|Phillipe|Martinez}}
|-
| [[2004 in film|2004]] || ''[[Narco]]'' || ''Jean's Ghost by Lenny'' || {{sortname|Tristan|Aurouet}}, [[Gilles Lellouche]]
|-
| [[2006 in film|2006]] || ''[[The Hard Corps]]'' || ''Phillip Sauvage'' || {{sortname|Sheldon|Lettich}}
|-
| [[2006 in film|2006]] || ''[[Second in Command]]'' || ''Sam Keenan'' || {{sortname|Simon|Fellows}}
|-
| [[2006 in film|2006]] || ''[[Sınav]]'' || ''Charles'' || {{sortname|Omer Faruk|Sorak}}
|-
| [[2007 in film|2007]] || ''[[Until Death (film)|Until Death]]'' || ''Anthony Stowe'' || {{sortname|Simon|Fellows}}
|-
| [[2008 in film|2008]] || ''[[The Shepherd: Border Patrol]]'' || ''Jack Robideaux'' || {{sortname|Isaac|Florentine}}
|-
| [[2008 in film|2008]] || ''[[JCVD]]'' || ''Himself'' || {{sortname|Mabrouk|El Mechri}}
|-
| [[2009 in film|2009]] || ''[[Full Love]]''<ref>
|-
| [[2009 in film|2009]] || ''[[Universal Soldier 3 A New Beggining]]''|| ''Luc Deveraux''||
|-


[http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1582633/20080303/story.jhtml?rsspartner=rssFeedBurner Jean-Claude Van Damme Re-Evaluates Career - Movie News Story | MTV Movie News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> || ''Frenchy'' || {{sort|Van Damme|Jean-Claude Van Damme}}
|}

==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), December 31, 2007: Jean-Claude Van Damme.

==See also==
* [[List of male kickboxers]]


==References==
{{São Paulo state|Metropolitana de São Paulo}}
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons|Jean-Claude Van Damme}}
{{wikiquote|Jean-Claude Van Damme}}
*[http://www.jeanclaudevandamme.be/ Official site] {{en icon}}
*{{imdb|0000241}}
*[http://www.celebritywonder.com/html/jeanclaudevandamme.html Trivia]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Damme, Jean-Claude}}
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages in São Paulo State]]
[[Category:1960 births]]


[[Category:Belgian expatriates in the United States]]
{{SaoPauloState-geo-stub}}
[[Category:Belgian film actors]]
[[Category:Belgian karateka]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People with bipolar disorder]]


[[ar:جين كلود فان دام]]
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[[ru:Жан-Клод Ван Дамм]]
[[sk:Jean Claude Van Damme]]
[[sr:Жан Клод Ван Дам]]
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[[ta:ஜான் கிலௌட் வான் டாம்]]
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[[zh:尚-克勞德·范·戴姆]]

Revision as of 22:25, 12 October 2008

"Van Damme" redirects here. For other uses, see Van Damme (disambiguation).

Template:Infobox Kickboxer 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.

Biography

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]

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


Health

Van Damme had troubles with cocaine during 1995, entering a month-long rehab program in 1996 but leaving it only after a week.[10] He is also reported to have experienced bipolar disorder.[10] 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".

— Australian Woman's Day

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, the environment, etc.) in a sort of Zen franglais. [11] 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:


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

Year Opponent Event Result Method Location
1977 Belgium Toon Van Oostrum European Karate Union(EKU) Event (semi-contact) won stoppage 1 round Brussels, Belgium
1977 Belgium Maurice Devos Netherlands Kickboxing Federation (NKBB) won knockout 1 round Antwerp, Belgium
1978 Germany Eric Bruno Strauss European Karate Union (EKU)Tournament won stoppage 1 round Antwerp, Belgium
1978 Belgium Michel Juvillier European Karate Union(EKU) Tournament won stoppage 1 round Antwerp, Belgium
1978 Belgium Orlando Lang European Karate Union(EKU) Open Tournament won technical knockout 1 round Antwerp, Belgium
1978 Belgium Emile Leibman World All-Style Karate Organization (WAKO)Tournament(semi-contact) won stoppage 1 round Iseghem, Belgium
1978 BelgiumCyrille Nollet World All-Style Karate Organization(WAKO) Tournament(semi-contact) won stoppage 1 round Iseghem, Belgium
1979 BelgiumAndre Robaeys World All-Style Karate Organization((WAKO) promotion (semi-contact) won stoppage 1 round Brussels, Belgium
1979 Belgium Jacques Piniarski World All-Style Karate Organization (WAKO)promotion (semi-contact) won stoppage 1 round Brussels, Belgium
1979 GermanyRolf Risberg World-All Style Karate Organization (WAKO) promotion (semi-contact) won stoppage 1 round Brussels, Belgium
1979 United States Sherman Bergman 2nd WAKO World Championships(Men's Semi-Contact 69kg) won stoppage 1 round Tampa, Florida
1979 PortugalGilberto (Gil) Diaz 2nd WAKO World Championships(Men's Semi-Contact 69kg) won stoppage 1 round Tampa, Florida
1979 Belgium Patrick Teugels 2nd WAKO World Championships(Men's Semi-Contact 69kg) lost decision 2 rounds Tampa, Florida
1980 Algeria Mustapha-Ahmad Benamou European Professional Karate Association (EPKA) promotion won knockout 1 round Brussels, Belgium
1980 Algeria Bekim-Moussa Muhammad European Professional Karate Association (EPKA) promotion won technical knockout 1 round Brussels, Belgium
1980 EnglandMicheal J. Heming European Professional Karate Association (EPKA) promotion won technical knockout 2 rounds Brussels, Belgium
1980(03/08) France Georges Verlugels Professional Karate Association (PKA) promotion won knockout 2 rounds Brussels, Belgium
1980 Belgium Andres Kovac European Professional Karate Association (EPKA) won knockout 2 rounds Brussels, Belgium
1980 Belgium Patrick Teugels WAKO Tournament won stoppage 1 round Brussels, Belgium

Filmography

Year Title Role Director
1983 Rue Barbare Background performer (police arrival sequence) Gilles Behat
1984 Breakin' Guy dancing in the background Joel Silberg
1984 Fight Klub Karate Man William A. Levy
1984 Monaco Forever Gay Karate Man William A. Levy
1985 No Retreat, No Surrender Ivan Krushensky Corey Yuen
1988 Black Eagle Andrei Eric Carson
1988 Bloodsport Frank Dux Newt Arnold
1989 Cyborg Gibson Rickenbacker Albert Pyun
1989 Kickboxer Kurt Sloane Mark DiSalle, David Worth
1990 Death Warrant Louis Burke Deran Serafian
1990 Lionheart Lyon Gaultier Sheldon Lettich
1990 AWOL
1991 Double Impact Alex Wagner/Chad Wagner Sheldon Lettich
1992 Universal Soldier Luc Deveraux/GR44 Roland Emmerich
1993 Hard Target Chance Boudreaux John Woo
1993 Last Action Hero Cameo Appearance John McTiernan
1993 Nowhere to Run Sam Gillen Robert Harmon
1994 Street Fighter Colonel William F. Guile Steven E. de Souza
1994 Timecop Max Walker Peter Hyams
1995 Sudden Death Darren McCord Peter Hyams
1996 Maximum Risk Alain Moreau/Mikhail Suverov Ringo Lam
1996 The Quest Christopher Dubois Jean-Claude Van Damme
1997 Double Team Jack Quinn Tsui Hark
1998 Legionnaire Alain Lefevre Peter MacDonald
1998 Knock Off Marcus Ray Tsui Hark
1999 Desert Heat Eddie Lomax John G. Avildsen
1999 Universal Soldier: The Return Luc Devereaux Mic Rodgers
2001 The Order Rudy Cafmeyer/Charles Le Vaillant Sheldon Lettich
2001 Replicant Edward "The Torch" Garrotte/Replicant Ringo Lam
2002 Derailed Jacques Kristoff Bob Misiorowski
2003 In Hell Kyle LeBlanc Ringo Lam
2004 Wake of Death Ben Archer Phillipe Martinez
2004 Narco Jean's Ghost by Lenny Tristan Aurouet, Gilles Lellouche
2006 The Hard Corps Phillip Sauvage Sheldon Lettich
2006 Second in Command Sam Keenan Simon Fellows
2006 Sınav Charles Omer Faruk Sorak
2007 Until Death Anthony Stowe Simon Fellows
2008 The Shepherd: Border Patrol Jack Robideaux Isaac Florentine
2008 JCVD Himself Mabrouk El Mechri
2009 Full Love[12] Frenchy Jean-Claude Van Damme

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), December 31, 2007: Jean-Claude Van Damme.

See also

References

  1. ^ Not over the Undertaker. (The Fans Speak Out). | Wrestling Digest (, 2003)
  2. ^ 'Sudden Death' star Jean-Claude Van Damme isn't so tough - just ask him. | Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service (, 1995)
  3. ^ Jean-Claude Van Damme Biography (1960-)
  4. ^ Jean-Claude van Damme Biography - Yahoo! Movies
  5. ^ a b Belgian Bruiser Muscles Into B-Movie Scene ', John Stanley, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 April 1989
  6. ^ Karate black belt)
  7. ^ 'Van Damme speaks language of karate', Louis B Parks, Houston Chronicle, 29 April 1988
  8. ^ 'Playboy interview', Lawrence Grobel, Playboy, 1 January 1995
  9. ^ 'Van Damme gets his kicks from acting now, not karate', Jae-Ha Kim, Chicago Sun-Times, 14 April 1989
  10. ^ a b Jean-Claude Van Damme - Actor Has Bipolar Disorder
  11. ^ Abstract Thinker
  12. ^ |- | 2009 || Universal Soldier 3 A New Beggining|| Luc Deveraux|| |- Jean-Claude Van Damme Re-Evaluates Career - Movie News Story | MTV Movie News

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jean-Claude Van Damme.
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