Name	Jean-claude Van Damme
Height	5'9
Naionality	Belgian
Date of Birth	18-Oct-1960
Place of Birth	Belgium
Famous for

When Jean-Claude Van Damme became an international film star, there was some debate as to his kick-boxing accomplishments. Former multiple World Kickboxing Champion Don "The Dragon" Wilson even offered Jean-Claude a "$100,000" bounty match to get into the ring and fight him. Van Damme brushed off the "challenge" as a publicity stunt. But, the truth of the matter was that Jean-Claude Van Damme was a successful semi and full-contact fighter who competed in Europe from 1976-1980

At the age of 12, Van Damme began his martial arts training at Centre National De Karate (National Center of Karate) under the guidance of Master Claude Goetz in Ixelles, Belgium. Van Damme trained for 4 years and earned a spot on the Belgium Karate Team.

Jean-Claude's debut in 1976, at the age of 16, almost ended in failure. Competing under his birth name of Jean Claude Van Varenberg, Jean-Claude was staggered by a round-house kick thrown by fellow countryman, Toon Van Oostrum in Brussels, Belgium. Van Damme was badly stunned, but came back to knockout Van Oostrum moments later.

In 1977, at the WAKO Open International in Belgium, Jean-Claude lost a decision to fellow team mate Patrick Teugels. The experience left an impact on Claude Goetz and he felt that Jean-Claude needed more training before competing again.

After six months of intense training and sparring, Master Goetz decided to unleash his prized pupil on the European Full-Contact scene. Jean-Claude won his first tournament by scoring 3 knockout victories in one evening. However, in a 1978 match for the Belgium Lightweight Title, he again lost a decision to Patrick Teugels. A few months later at Iseghem, Belgium, Van Damme comeback and knocked out Emile Leibman in the first round. In 1979, Jean-Claude and the Belgium Team became European Champions.

Contrary to various reports, Jean-Claude Van Damme did not compete with the Belgium Team in the 1979 WAKO World Full-Contact Championships in Tampa, Florida. A "Rudy Van Damme" competed for the Belgium team, but was eliminated in the opening match in the 79kg division. Jean-Claude had lost his position on the Belgium Team by losing to Patrick Teugels in the Belgium Championship the year before.

However, even though he missed the opportunity to fight for the world championship, Jean-Claude continued fighting and winning.

In his next match, Van Damme faced Sherman 'Big Train' Bergman, a kick-boxer from the Miami Beach, Florida (USA) with a long string of knockout victories. For the first and only time in his career, Jean-Claude was knocked to the canvas after absorbing a powerful left hook. However, Jean-Claude climbed off the canvas and with a perfectly timed ax-kick, knocked Bergman out cold in 59 seconds of the first round. Van Damme ended 1979 with a stoppage of Spain's Gilberto Dias by injury in one round.

In 1980, Jean-Claude Van Damme established himself as one of the best middleweight full-contact fighters in Europe. After two tune-up victories, Van Damme defeated former Great Britian Karate Champion Micheal Heming. Next, Van Damme scored a knockout over France's Georges Verlugels in 2 rounds.

After this victory, Van Damme caught the attention of the European martial arts community. Professional Karate Magazine publisher and editor Mike Anders, and multiple European Champion Geet Lemmens tabbed Jean-Claude Van Damme as an upcoming prospect. However, Jean-Claude's ambitions now focused in the direction of movie acting.

Before he retired from active competition, Jean-Claude wanted to knockout the only man to defeat him, Patrick Teugels. In 1980, at the Forest Nationals in Brussels, Jean-Claude knocked Teugels down and scored a first round technical knockout victory. Teugels suffered a nose injury and was unable in continue.

Following the victory,Jean-Claude retired from martial arts competition. His fight record was 18-2 (18 knockouts).

After Jean-Claude's film career took off, controversy arose because none of his fights were found. Some experts blasted Van Damme as a fake, saying he only had one amateur fight which he lost. But research and the Internet have finally cleared things up. Jean-Claude Van Damme fought his entire fight career under his birth name of Van Varenberg. Also, videos of his fights now appear on the Internet, including his victories over Teugels, Diaz, and Bergman.When Jean-Claude Van Damme became an international film star, there was some debate as to his kick-boxing accomplishments. Former multiple World Kickboxing Champion Don "The Dragon" Wilson even offered Jean-Claude a "$100,000" bounty match to get into the ring and fight him. Van Damme brushed off the "challenge" as a publicity stunt. But, the truth of the matter was that Jean-Claude Van Damme was a successful semi and full-contact fighter who competed in Europe from 1976-1980

At the age of 12, Van Damme began his martial arts training at Centre National De Karate (National Center of Karate) under the guidance of Master Claude Goetz in Ixelles, Belgium. Van Damme trained for 4 years and earned a spot on the Belgium Karate Team.

Jean-Claude's debut in 1976, at the age of 16, almost ended in failure. Competing under his birth name of Jean Claude Van Varenberg, Jean-Claude was staggered by a round-house kick thrown by fellow countryman, Toon Van Oostrum in Brussels, Belgium. Van Damme was badly stunned, but came back to knockout Van Oostrum moments later.

In 1977, at the WAKO Open International in Belgium, Jean-Claude lost a decision to fellow team mate Patrick Teugels. The experience left an impact on Claude Goetz and he felt that Jean-Claude needed more training before competing again.

After six months of intense training and sparring, Master Goetz decided to unleash his prized pupil on the European Full-Contact scene. Jean-Claude won his first tournament by scoring 3 knockout victories in one evening. However, in a 1978 match for the Belgium Lightweight Title, he again lost a decision to Patrick Teugels. A few months later at Iseghem, Belgium, Van Damme comeback and knocked out Emile Leibman in the first round. In 1979, Jean-Claude and the Belgium Team became European Champions.

Contrary to various reports, Jean-Claude Van Damme did not compete with the Belgium Team in the 1979 WAKO World Full-Contact Championships in Tampa, Florida. A "Rudy Van Damme" competed for the Belgium team, but was eliminated in the opening match in the 79kg division. Jean-Claude had lost his position on the Belgium Team by losing to Patrick Teugels in the Belgium Championship the year before.

However, even though he missed the opportunity to fight for the world championship, Jean-Claude continued fighting and winning.

In his next match, Van Damme faced Sherman 'Big Train' Bergman, a kick-boxer from the Miami Beach, Florida (USA) with a long string of knockout victories. For the first and only time in his career, Jean-Claude was knocked to the canvas after absorbing a powerful left hook. However, Jean-Claude climbed off the canvas and with a perfectly timed ax-kick, knocked Bergman out cold in 59 seconds of the first round. Van Damme ended 1979 with a stoppage of Spain's Gilberto Dias by injury in one round.

In 1980, Jean-Claude Van Damme established himself as one of the best middleweight full-contact fighters in Europe. After two tune-up victories, Van Damme defeated former Great Britian Karate Champion Micheal Heming. Next, Van Damme scored a knockout over France's Georges Verlugels in 2 rounds.

After this victory, Van Damme caught the attention of the European martial arts community. Professional Karate Magazine publisher and editor Mike Anders, and multiple European Champion Geet Lemmens tabbed Jean-Claude Van Damme as an upcoming prospect. However, Jean-Claude's ambitions now focused in the direction of movie acting.

Before he retired from active competition, Jean-Claude wanted to knockout the only man to defeat him, Patrick Teugels. In 1980, at the Forest Nationals in Brussels, Jean-Claude knocked Teugels down and scored a first round technical knockout victory. Teugels suffered a nose injury and was unable in continue.

Following the victory,Jean-Claude retired from martial arts competition. His fight record was 18-2 (18 knockouts).

After Jean-Claude's film career took off, controversy arose because none of his fights were found. Some experts blasted Van Damme as a fake, saying he only had one amateur fight which he lost. But research and the Internet have finally cleared things up. Jean-Claude Van Damme fought his entire fight career under his birth name of Van Varenberg. Also, videos of his fights now appear on the Internet, including his victories over Teugels, Diaz, and Bergman.