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Jean-Claude Van DammeDate of Birth: 18th Oct, 1960
Birth Place:
Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, Belgium  Jean-Claude Van Damme (born October 18, 1960) is a Belgian martial artist, and actor.Van Damme was born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, 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. 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. 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 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, 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. 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. 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. More recently, according to People magazine (June 2006), Van Damme has been battling with a lump on his forehead that is the cause of terrible migraine headaches. He says the pain at times is excruciating and is currently taking prescription medicines for relief. Van Damme goes on to tell People the lump is due to the constant blows and big kicks he has taken during his martial arts career. US Weekly of June 2008 reports that Van Damme received a minor contusion to his burgaw of the forehead whilst dancing in a night club. Van Damme reportedly took center stage in a New York night club, pushing men and women aside stating, "Oh Yeah, I'm good" when asked if he could dance. It was reported that Dean then performed his famous leg split and when rising to his feet, an alleged attacker punched him in his forehead, leaving him unconscious. US Weekly reports that Paramedics arrived on scene to find the once high-flying actor on the ground lying in vomit and blood. Van Damme was reported in stable condition. (pictures to follow via US Weekly 721 issue, June 2008). 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.
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