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 Varenberg[Not over the Undertaker. (The Fans Speak Out). | Wrestling Digest (, 2003)] (also spelled
Varenburg)
['Sudden Death' star Jean-Claude Van Damme isn't so tough - just ask him. | Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service (, 1995)] in
Berchem-Sainte-Agathe (
Brussels),
Belgium, the son of Eliana and Eugène Van Vaerenbergh, who was an accountant and owned a flower shop.
[Jean-Claude Van Damme Biography (1960-)][Jean-Claude van Damme Biography - Yahoo! Movies] He began martial arts at the age of ten, enrolled by his father in a
shotokan karate school.
[Belgian Bruiser Muscles Into B-Movie Scene ', John Stanley, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 April 1989] He eventually earned his
black belt in
karate,
[Karate black belt)] 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"
['Van Damme speaks language of karate', Louis B Parks, Houston Chronicle, 29 April 1988]).
He also started lifting weights to improve his physique, which eventually led to a Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title.
['Playboy interview', Lawrence Grobel, Playboy, 1 January 1995] 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 gets his kicks from acting now, not karate', Jae-Ha Kim, Chicago Sun-Times, 14 April 1989]
