Tribute to Jean Claude Van Damme

When it comes to martial-arts, womanizing, full-splits and sweet dance moves, not many can go toe-to-toe with Jean Claude Van Damme, “The Muscles from Brussels.”

Born in Belgium, JCVD spent the earlier years of his life lifting weights and kicking ass, earning a black belt in karate before most kids get their first boner.

After much ass-kicking he took up ballet, nailed it, then resumed to more ass-kicking, albeit more elegantly. By 19 JCVD was fightin’ dudes all over Europe, winning Full-Contact Championship titles and tallying up a professional record of 13-1.

Then came the martial-arts/action movies, international stardom, scandals, parodies, budget films and televised boners.

Check out JCVD fun facts, video clips and a “questionable” photo gallery after the jump.

Jean Claude Van Damme Fun Facts:

JCVD’s birth name is Jean-Claude Camille Francois Van Varenberg, meaning his earlier moniker would be JCCFVV.

In one of his first films, Monaco Forever, JCVD played a character billed as “Very Gay Karate Man” in the credits (clip shown below).

JCVD had a very small appearance in the breakdancing classic Breakin’ (clip shown below).

JCVD was casted to play the camouflaged alien in the movie Predator – but he found the heavy costume to be too difficult to maneuver in. In a bizarre turn of events he intentionally hurt a stuntman to get kicked off the project.

JCVD was paid 6.2 million to play Guile in the atrocious Street Fighter movie.

Last but not least, JCVD was Chuck Norris’ personal trainer. Seriously.

Van Damme as “Very Gay Karate Man” in Monaco Forever:

Van Damme busts a move as an extra in Breakin’ (can you find him?):

Van Damme kickin’ it in Kickboxer:

Van Damme’s classic monologue from Street Fighter:

Van Damme pops a boner on live television:

Take a JCVD quiz (written in the most beautiful broken-English ever) right here.