Happy Birthday Jean-Claude Van Damme

Written on the 16 September 2023

Happy Birthday to Jean-Claude Van Damme born on October 18th.

Van Damme was born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, Belgium. Known as "The Muscles from Brussels" started martial arts at age 11, training in Karate. At the age of 16 he took up Ballet, trained for 5 years and has always quoted "if you can survive Ballet, you can do any other sport". He later took up Taekwondo and Muay Thai Kickboxing.

Below is GIANT Instructor Anthony giving JCVD's beach kick photo a run for his money!

Van Damme travelled to the USA in 1979 and continued training and competing in Karate and Kickboxing. In 1981 he moved to LA, took English classes and worked as a carpet layer, pizza delivery man, limo driver and thanks to Chuck Norris, he got a job as a bouncer at a club.

He amassed a professional Kickboxing record of 18 wins (all by KO) and 1 loss. His semi contact Karate amateur record is 41 wins and 4 losses. He also ranked a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate.

As an actor, screen writer, film producer and director his best known projects include: No Retreat, No Surrender (1986), Bloodsport (1988), Kickboxer franchise (1989-2018), Lionheart (1990), Double Impact (1991), Universal Soldier franchise (1992-2012), Hard Target (1993), Street Fighter (1994), Timecop (1994), Sudden Death (1995), JCVD (2008), The Expendables 2 (2012), Kung Fu Panda 2, and 3 (2011-2015).

He is highly regarded as one the great Martial Arts Actors of modern cinema.