He knocked Patrick Teugels down and scored a first round technical knockout victory. Van Damme ended his fight career at the Forest National in Brussels. However, Jean-Claude's ambitions now focused in the direction of acting.
#Timecop co star professional#
Professional Karate Magazine publisher and editor Mike Anders, and multiple European champion Geet Lemmens tabbed Jean-Claude Van Damme as an upcoming prospect. After these victories, Jean-Claude caught the attention of the European martial arts community. Next, Van Damme scored a knockout over France's Georges Verlugels in two rounds. In 1980, Jean-Claude Van Damme defeated former Great Britain karate champion Michael J. Van Damme ended 1979 with a stoppage of Gilberto (Gil) Diaz in one round. 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. For the only time in his career, Jean-Claude was knocked to the canvas after absorbing a powerful left hook. Next, Jean-Claude faced Sherman Bergman, a kick-boxer from Florida (USA) with a long string of knockout victories. In 1979, Jean-Claude and the Belgium Team became European Team Champions. Once again, the loss left an impact on Claude Goetz and a few months later at Iseghem, Belgium, Van Damme came back and knocked out Emile Leibman in the first round. However, in a 1978 match for the Belgium lightweight title, he again lost a decision to Patrick Teugels. Jean-Claude won his first tournament by scoring three knockout victories in one evening. The experience left an impact on Claude Goetz and he felt that Jean-Claude needed more training before competing again.Īfter six months of intense training and sparring, Master Goetz decided to unleash his prized pupil on the European Full-Contact scene. In 1977, at the WAKO Open International in Belgium, Jean-Claude lost a decision to fellow team mate Patrick Teugels. Van Damme was badly stunned, but came back to knock out Van Oostrum moments later. Competing under his birth name of Jean Claude Van Varenberg, Jean-Claude was staggered by a round-house kick thrown by Toon Van Oostrum in Brussels, Belgium. Jean-Claude made his debut in 1976, at the age of 16. Van Damme trained for four years and he earned a spot in the Belgian Karate Team. He attained subsequent box office success with Timecop (1994), which grossed over $100 million worldwide and became his most financially successful film.Īt the age of 12, Van Damme joined the Centre National De Karate (National Center of Karate) under the guidance of Claude Goetz in France. He immigrated to the United States in 1982 to pursue a career in film, and achieved breakout success with Bloodsport (1988), based on a story written by Frank Dux. Due to his physique and his Belgian background, he is known as "The Muscles from Brussels."Īfter studying martial arts intensively from the age of ten, Van Damme achieved national success in Belgium as a martial artist and bodybuilder, earning the "Mr. His most successful films include Bloodsport (1988), Kickboxer (1989), Double Impact (1991), Universal Soldier (1992), Hard Target (1993), Timecop (1994), and Street Fighter (1994). Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg (born 18 October 1960), professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action movies.
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