Jean claude van damme biography wikipedia

Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg (French: [ʒɑ̃ klod kamij fʁɑ̃swa vɑ̃ vaʁɑ̃bɛʁɡ]; Dutch: [vɑn ˈvarə(n)ˈbɛrx]; born 18 October 1960), known professionally as Jean-Claude Van Damme (French: [vɑ̃ dam]; Dutch: [vɑn ˈdɑmə]), is a Belgian martial artist, actor, and filmmaker. Nicknamed "The Muscles from Brussels", he is widely regarded as an icon of action and martial arts cinema. Van Damme's films have grossed over $1 billion worldwide, making him one of the most successful action stars of all time.

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Jean-Claude Van Damme

Van Damme in Cannes

BornJean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg
(1960-10-18) 18 October 1960 (age 64)
Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Brussels-Capital, Belgium
Other names
  • "JCVD"
  • "The Muscles from Brussels"
Height177 cm 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
DivisionMiddleweight
StyleKarate, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Taekwondo
Fighting out ofBrussels, Belgium
TeamTeam Goetz
TrainerClaude Goetz
Dominique Valera
Rank  2nd Dan Black Belt in Karate
Years active1976–1982 (martial arts)
1979–present (acting)
Total19
Wins18
By knockout18
Losses1
Total48
Wins44
Losses4
Occupation
  • Martial artist
  • actor
  • writer
  • producer
  • conservationist
Spouse

María Rodríguez

(m. 1980;div. 1984)​

Cynthia Derderian

(m. 1985;div. 1986)​

Gladys Portugues

(m. 1987;div. 1992)​

Darcy LaPier

(m. 1994;div. 1997)​
Children3
Websitejcvdworld.com

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Born and raised in Brussels, his father enrolled him in a Shotokankarate school at the age of ten, which led Van Damme to earn his black belt in karate at the age of eighteen, and the rank of 2nd-dan black belt. He competed in severa

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Other name(s)

JCVD
"The Muscles from Brussels"

Date of birth

October 18, 1960


Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg (born 18 October 1960), professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme and abbreviated as JCVD, is a Belgian actor, martial artist, screenwriter, film producer, and director best known for his martial arts action films.

Early life[]

Van Damme was born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg, on 18 October 1960, in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, Belgium, the son of Eliana and Eugène Van Varenberg, who was an accountant and florist. His father is Walloon (French-speaking) from Brussels, and his mother is Flemish (Dutch-speaking).

He began martial arts at the age of ten, enrolled by his father in a Shotokan karate school. His styles consist of Shotokan Karate and Kickboxing. He eventually earned his black belt in karate at 18. He 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. According to Van Damme, ballet "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." Later he took up both Taekwondo and Muay Thai.

Martial arts career[]

At the age of 12, Van Damme joined the Centre National De Karaté (National Center of Karate) under the guidance of Claude Goetz in Belgium. Van Damme trained for four years and he earned a spot on the Belgian Karate Team; later training in full-contact karate and kickboxing with Dominique Valera.

Semi-contact karate career

At the age of 15, Van Damme started his competitive karate career in Belgium. From 1976 to 1980, Van Damme compiled a record of 44 victories and 4 defeats in tournament and non-tournament semi-contact matches.

Van Damme was a member of the Belgium Karate Team when it won the European Karate Championship on 26 December 1979 at La C

  • Jean-claude van damme age
    1. Jean claude van damme biography wikipedia

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Van Damme in Cannes

    BornJean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg
    (1960-10-18) 18 October 1960 (age 64)
    Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Brussels-Capital, Belgium
    Other names
    • "JCVD"
    • "The Muscles from Brussels"
    Height177 cm 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
    Weight180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
    DivisionMiddleweight
    StyleKarate, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Taekwondo
    Fighting out ofBrussels, Belgium
    TeamTeam Goetz
    TrainerClaude Goetz
    Dominique Valera
    Rank  2nd Dan Black Belt in Karate
    Years active1976–1982 (martial arts)
    1979–present (acting)
    Total19
    Wins18
    By knockout18
    Losses1
    Total48
    Wins44
    Losses4
    Occupation
    • Martial artist
    • actor
    • writer
    • producer
    • conservationist
    Spouse

    María Rodríguez

    (m. 1980; div. 1984)​

    Cynthia Derderian

    (m. 1985; div. 1986)​

    Gladys Portugues

    (m. 1987; div. 1992)​

    (m. 1999)​

    Darcy LaPier

    (m. 1994; div. 1997)​
    Children3
    Websitejcvdworld.com

    Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg (French: [ʒɑ̃ klod kamij fʁɑ̃swa vɑ̃ vaʁɑ̃bɛʁɡ]; Dutch: [vɑn ˈvarə(n)ˈbɛrx]; born 18 October 1960), known professionally as Jean-Claude Van Damme (French: [vɑ̃ dam]; Dutch: [vɑn ˈdɑmə]), is a Belgian martial artist, actor, and filmmaker. Nicknamed "The Muscles from Brussels", he is widely regarded as an icon of action and martial arts cinema. Van Damme's films have grossed over $1 billion worldwide, making him one of the most successful action stars of all time.

    Early life

    [change

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Belgian actor and martial artist (born 1960)

    "Van Damme" and "JCVD" redirect here. For other uses, see Van Damme (disambiguation) and JCVD (disambiguation).

    In this Dutch name, the surname is Van Damme, not Damme.

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Van Damme in 2012

    BornJean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg
    (1960-10-18) 18 October 1960 (age 64)
    Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels-Capital, Belgium
    Other names
    • "JCVD"
    • "The Muscles from Brussels"
    Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
    Weight180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
    DivisionMiddleweight
    StyleKarate, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Taekwondo
    Fighting out ofBrussels, Belgium
    TeamTeam Goetz
    TrainerClaude Goetz
    Dominique Valera
    Rank  2nd Dan Black Belt in Karate
    Years active1976–present (martial arts)
    1979–present (acting)
    Total19
    Wins18
    By knockout18
    Losses1
    Total48
    Wins44
    Losses4
    Occupation
    • Martial artist
    • actor
    • writer
    • producer
    • conservationist
    Spouse

    María Rodríguez

    (m. 1980; div. 1984)​

    Cynthia Derderian

    (m. 1985; div. 1986)​

    Gladys Portugues

    (m. 1987; div. 1992)​

    (m. 1999)​

    Darcy LaPier

    (m. 1994; div. 1997)​
    Children3
    Websitejcvdworld.com

    Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg (French:[ʒɑ̃klodkamijfʁɑ̃swavɑ̃vaʁɑ̃bɛʁɡ], Flemish:[vɑɱˈvaːrə(m)bɛr(ə)x]; born 18 October 1960), known professionally as Jean-Claude Van Damme (French:[vɑ̃dam], Flemish:[vɑnˈdɑmə]), is a Belgian martial artist and actor. Born and raised in Brussels, his father enrolled him in a Shotokan karate school at th

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