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-contact and full-contact fighter (amateur) who competed in Europe and briefly in the United States from 1976-1982.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.In 1976 at the age of sixteen, Jean-Claude started his amateur fight career as a 135-pound lightweight. He debuted under his birth name of Jean Claude Van Varenberg. In his first match, 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. Jean-Claude finished the year with a first knockout win over Roland Vedani in a competition in Ingelmunster. Some sources list these two matches as "light-contact" which would mean that the victories were listed as "won by forfeit due to injury", not knockouts.In 1977, at the WAKO Open International in Antwerp, Belgium, Jean-Claude won a decision over fellow team mate Patrick Teugels. Previous reports had Van Damme losing a decision, but a recent video shows Jean-Claude winning the match.At the same tournament, Van Damme knocked out Andre Lemaire in the opening round of a match fought under full-contact rules.After six months of intense training and sparring, Master Goetz decided to unleash his prized pupil on the European Full-Contact scene.At the 1978 Challenge De Espoirs Karate Tournament (1st Trials),Jean-Claude placed 2nd in the semi-contact division. He defeated three opponents, but lost in the finals to a fighter billed as Spataro from the Naha Club. Later in 1978, Jean-Claude lost a 2-round match for the Belgium Lightweight Championship (semi-contact) to his fellow team-mate to Patrick Teugels. Van Damme ended the year by losing in the opening eliminations at the 1978 WAKO Amateur World Championships, thus failing to place in the top 10.In 1979, Jean-Claude was a member of the Belgium Karate Team when it traveled to Tampa, Florida to compete in the WAKO World Championships promoted by Mike Anderson. In his first and only match against a United States opponent, Van Damme faced 'Sherman 'Big Train'Bergman', a kick-boxer from the Miami Beach, Florida in a non-tournament match which was fought under full-contact rules. For the first and only time in his career, Jean-Claude was knocked to the canvas after absorbing a powerful left hook from Bergman. However, Jean-Claude climbed off the canvas and with a perfectly timed ax-kick, knocked Bergman out cold in 56 seconds of the first round. Van Damme then attempted to win the Semi-Contact 69kg World Championship, but was defeated in the opening elimination match by a fighter from Spain. Thus, Jean-Claude Van Damme failed for the second time to place in the World Championships. He went on to defeat Spain's Gilberto Dias by forfeit due to injury in the first round of an international light-contact match fought in Belgium. Following that match, Jean-Claude was a member of the Belgium team which competed on December 26, 1979 at the La Coupe Fancois Persoons Karate Tournament which was sanctioned by the Federation bruxelloise de Karate. Van Damme's victory over European and British Semi-Contact Middleweight Champion Micheal Heming by "forfeit" due to injury in the second round, enabled the Belgium team to win the European Team Championships. Previous sources had listed this match as a professional match which too place in 1980.In 1980, Jean-Claude Van Damme knocked out France's Georges Verlugels in 2 rounds of a match fought under kick-boxing rules.After these victories, Van Damme caught the attention of the European martial arts community. Professional Karate Magazine publisher and editor Mike Anderson, 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 defeat his rival Patrick Teugels, and a rubber-match was scheduled at the Forest Nationals in Brussels, on March 8, 1980. The match was held on a professional card, but it was listed as an under-card match. The match was fought under "light-contact" rules and ended when Jean-Claude knocked Teugels down and Teugels suffered a nose injury and was unable to continue. The official result was a "forfeit win due to injury."Following the victory, Jean-Claude retired from martial arts competition, but a year later he launched a comeback. Both his comeback fights were kick-boxing matches. In 1981, Jean-Claude knocked out Henk Besselman in one round, and in 1982, he knocked out Lenny Leikman in three rounds. Videos and newspaper reports support Jean-Claude's Van Damme's claim to a successful fight record. All his matches (except possibly his comeback matches in 1981-1982) were amateur bouts. The vast majority of his career was fought in both semi and light-contact tournaments. However, he had at least 3-matches fought under kick-boxing rules.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; thus the mix-up.In August, 2009, it was announced that Jean-Claude Van Damme would return to the ring after a 27 year retirement to fight Thailand's Somrak Khamsing in a match promoted by Japan's K-1. The comeback fight is scheduled for November 2011 in Russia.

1. Dragon Eyes (2012) - Tiano 2. The Expendables 2 (Eroi de sacrificiu 2) (2012) - Jean Vilain

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3. Six Bullets (2012) - Samson Gaul 4. Universal Soldier: A New Dimension (2012) - Luc Devreaux 5. Assassination Games (2011) - Vincent Brazil 6. "Jean Claude Van Damme: Behind Closed Doors" (2011) - Himself (8 episodes, 2011) 7. Kung Fu Panda 2 (Kung Fu Panda 2) (2011) - Master Croc (voice)

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8. Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2009) - Luc Deveraux 9. The Shepherd: Border Patrol (2008) - Jack Robideaux 10. JCVD (2008) - JCVD

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11. The Hard Corps (2006) - Philippe Sauvage 12. Wake of Death (2004) - Ben Archer 13. Guns, Genes & Fighting Machines: The Making of 'Universal Soldier' (2004) - Himself 14. Dans la peau de Jean-Claude Van Damme (2003) - Himself 15. In Hell (2003) - Kyle LeBlanc 16. Derailed (2002) - Jacques Kristoff 17. Replicant (2001) - Replicant / Edward Garrotte 18. Universal Soldier: The Return (1999) - Luc Deveraux 19. Inferno (1999) - Eddie Lomax 20. Legionnaire (1998) - (story) 21. Legionnaire (1998) - Alain Lefevre 22. Double Team (1997) - Jack Quinn 23. Maximum Risk (1996) - Alain Moreau / Mikhail Suverov 24. Street Fighter: The Movie (1995) - Colonel Guile 25. Top Fighter (1995) - (archive footage) 26. Timecop (1994) - Walker 27. "Howard Stern" (1994) - Himself (4 episodes, 1994-1996) 28. Kickboxer 4: The Aggressor (1994) - Kurt Sloane (archive footage) (uncredited) 29. Street Fighter (1994) - Colonel William F. Guile 30. Last Action Hero (1993) - Himself 31. The Curse of the Dragon (1993) - Himself (uncredited) 32. Nowhere to Run (1993) - Sam Gillen 33. Hard Target (1993) - Chance Boudreaux 34. Making of 'Universal Soldier' (1992) - Himself 35. The Best of the Martial Arts Films (1992) - Himself (archive footage) 36. Universal Soldier (1992) - Luc Deveraux / GR44 37. Double Impact (1991) - Alex / Chad Wagner 38. Kickboxer 2: The Road Back (1991) - (characters) 39. Double Impact (1991) - (screen story) and 40. Lionheart (1990) - (story) 41. Death Warrant (1990) - Louis Burke 42. Lionheart (1990) - Léon Gaultier 43. Bloodsport (1988) - Frank Dux (as Jean Claude Van Damme) 44. Black Eagle (1988) - Andrei 45. No Retreat, No Surrender (1986) - Ivan Kraschinsky the Russian

1. His fight scenes are so intense that he won't film them in the U.S. for fear of being sued.

2. In 1989, he was sued for willfully gouging the eye of an extra in a sword fight while filming Cyborg (1989).

3. Won a court case filed against him by martial arts legend Frank Dux, who claimed he collaborated with Van Damme on his 1996 directorial debut The Quest (1996), only for Van Damme to deny him any share of the profits. His evidence was lost in an earthquake. Coincidentally, Van Damme played Dux in his debut Bloodsport (1988).

4. Member of the 1979 European Team Champions.

5. On July 10, 2000, Van Damme was sentenced to an anti-drunk driving class, a $1,200 fine, 3 years probation and a 90 day revocation of his license after pleading no contest for a September 23, 1999 DUI arrest in Beverly Hills.

6. Once said he learned to speak English by watching the cartoon "The Flintstones" (1959).

7. In Jesse Ventura's book, he mentions Van Damme as having played Predator (1987) monster until he was fired and replaced by Kevin Peter Hall.

8. Studied classical ballet for five years

9. In his late teens he opened a gym called California Fitness Center.

10. Was student of Dominique Valera.

11. Was a European Middle Weight Champion in Karate in his late teens.

12. Likes classical music and his favorite composer is Beethoven.

13. Jean-Claude Van Damme failed to place in either the 1978 or 1979 WAKO World Championships. However, he was a member of the 1979 Belgium Team when it won the European Team Championships. He also won at the Forest Nationals in 1980.

14. Can lift 166 kg on a bench.

15. Was the original choice to play the title character in Predator (1987).

16. Related to Screenwriter Adam Burnett through marriage.

17. One-time sparring partner of Chuck Norris during the early 80s.

18. Children: Kristopher Van Varenberg (b. 1987) and Bianca Van Varenberg (b. 1990) with Gladys Portugues; son Nicholas (b. 1995) with Darcy LaPier.

19. He was the inspiration for the character Johnny Cage from Mortal Kombat. One of Johnny Cage's special moves is doing the splits while punching his opponent in the groin, as seen when Van Damme's character, Frank Dux, punches his large sumo opponent in Bloodsport (1988).

20. As the original choice to play the role of the alien hunter itself in the movie Predator (1987), he hit a few personal snags. For starters, he was not happy with the fact that his face would not be shown on camera, and that he would be having an uncredited special effects role. He was also not fond of the original monster suit - he frequently passed out due to heat exhaustion. Because he complained so much and was very uncooperative, he was fired from the film. When Stan Winston's Predator design came in, Kevin Peter Hall was chosen to play the title role and filled it perfectly. Supposedly, Van Damme has no regrets on backing out of the Predator project.

21. Knocked out Germany's Eric 'Basel' Strauss in 18 seconds in 1978 at Antwerp, Belgium, in a scheduled 3-round full-contact match.

22. Knocked-out Emile Leibman in the first round of a scheduled three-round full-contact match at Iseghem, Belgium in 1979.

23. Often states 'Charlie Chaplin (I)' as the first great action star.

24. Adopted Van Damme as his stage name from one of his friend's father name. He considered it punchy, short and clear than his birth name of Van Varenberg.

25. Brother of Veronique Van Varenberg.

26. Films often contain injuries to the groin area. Examples: Double Impact (1991) Hard Target (1993) and Timecop (1994).

27. Fought on the March 8, 1980 under-card of the main event between France's Dominique Valera and U.S.A.'s Dan Macaruso. The fight took place in 1980 in Brussels, Belgium, and Jean-Claude stopped Patrick Teugels by first round knockout, fracturing Teugels nose.

28. At Mulhouse, Belgium in 1978, he knocked out Andre (Robar) Robaeys in 1 round of a scheduled 3-round full-contact match.

29. At Opprebais, Belgium in 1978, he stopped Jacques Piniarski in 1 round of a scheduled 3-round full-contact match.

30. In 1980, in Brussels, fighting under his birth name, Jean Claude Van Varenberg, he knocked out a fighter known as Verlugels in 2 rounds.

31. Fighting as Jean Claude Van Varenberg, he knocked out Rolf Risberg in 1 round of a scheduled 3-round full-contact match in Ingelmunster, Belgium, in 1979.

32. Van Dammes only defeat was to Patrick Teugels, his former team mate on the Belgium team. However, Van Damme won both the rematch and the rubber match.

33. In 1979, fighting as Jean-Claude Van Varenberg, he climbed off the canvas to knock out Sherman 'Big Train' Bergman of Miami Beach, Florida with an Axe-kick in one round.

34. The character of Johnny Cage from the Mortal Kombat games was initially modeled on Jean Claude Van Damme.

35. Amateur Fight Record: 23-4 (22 knockouts) 1976: Won: Knocked out Toon Van Oostrum in 1 round. 1976: Won: Knocked out Roland Vedani in 1 round.1977: Won: Knocked out Maurice Devos in 1 round. 1977: Won:Decision to Patrick Teugels 3 rounds. 1977:Won: Knocked out Andre Lemaire in 1 round. Won: Knocked out Eric Bruno Strauss in 1 round. 1978: Won: Knocked out Michel Juvillier in 1 round. 1978: Lost:Decision to Patrick Teugels in 3 rounds. 1978: Won: Knocked out Orlando Lang in 1 round. 1978: Won: Knocked out Emile Leibman in 1 round. 1978: Won: Knocked out Cyrille in 1 round. 1979: Won: Knocked out Andre Robaeys in 1 round. 1979: Won: Knocked out Jacques Piniarski in 1 round. 1979: Won: Knocked out Rolf Risberg in 1 round. 1979: Won: Knocked out Sherman Bergman in 1 round. 1979: Won: Knocked out Gil Dias in 1 round.1979: Won: Decisioned Patrick Teugels. 1980: Won: Knocked out Mustapha-Ahmad Benamou in 1 round. 1980: Won: Knocked out Bekim-Moussa Muhammad in 1 round. 1980: Won: Knocked out Micheal J. Heming in 2 rounds(Some sources list this match on December 26, 1979). 1980: Won: Knocked out Georges Verlugels in 2 rounds. 1980: Won: Knocked out Andres Kovac in 2 rounds. 1980: Won: Knocked out Patrick Teugels in 1 round.1981: Won: Knocked out Henk Besselman in 1 round. 1982: Won: Knockedout out Lenny Leikman in 3 rounds. (The Besselman/Leikman matches might be professional matches).

36. Lives in Hong Kong and Knokke-Heist, Belgium.

37. Jean-Claude Van Damme knocked out Holland's Henk Besselman in 1 round of a kick-boxing match in Brussels, Belguim in 1981.

38. When first arriving in Hollywood, in the 1980s, his jobs consisted of waiter, delivering pizza, taxi driver and as a bouncer at Chuck Norris club, Woody's World, at Newport Beach.