Anonymous
12-09-2005, 17:46
Ik weet dat er al een post over is geweest, maar bij deze nog een lezenswaardig artikel hierover:
Jean-Claude Van Damme wants to fight in K-1. But has the 44-year-old got what it takes to mix it up in the Max?
Van Damme was scouting locations for his latest film in Bucharest, Romania when he commented to the Realitatea Romanesca newspaper that he plans to make a return to fight competitions with the aim of winning the K-1 world title.
“I am planning to go back to fighting next year when I am 45. I gave up fighting a long time ago because it offers no perspectives and there are people who do not respect their art. But now I want to fight again to prove something to myself. I’d be the first actor to fight in K-1 and also the oldest competitor.�
Van Damme’s comments have caused a stir on internet chat boards the world over with kickboxing fans unsure whether to take the action star seriously or view his comments as a publicity stunt. Following the hoo-haa made over Mike Tyson’s ‘signing’ with K-1, fans tread cautiously when it comes to the contracting of big names.
After the signings of retired boxers, former NFL stars and sumotori, K-1 signing Van Damme to fights – even exhibition fights – would not surprise. The question then arises: how well equipped would Van Damme be in the ring?
“I’ve had enough of people saying Van Damme this, Van Damme that… I am a real fighter, I can kick like a fucking buffalo. If a guy comes to me and puts his guard on, I’ll kick him three feet in the air. If you don’t believe me then that is your right but bring me some guys and let them tell me I am full of shit. Watch Bloodsport and bring any champion next to you and let them watch it and tell you if I am full of shit.�
From his house in Honolulu, Hawaii, we spoke to former world heavyweight champion Dennis Alexio, who co-starred with Van Damme in Kickboxer, a film which grossed more than $90 million worldwide.
“Jean Claude is not a kickboxer,� said Alexio. “Jean Claude told me that he only ever had one fight and that Domenic Valera was his trainer. I spoke to Domenic and he said that Jean Claude never fought full contact and never trained to fight in the ring.
“We never really sparred in Thailand on the set of Kickboxer. We tapped around and played tag and Jean Claude has good flexibility but he is not a fighter by any means at all. He has some decent weapons such as his right leg side kick and a nice heel kick; he is capable to a degree but not on a world class level or even a competitive professional level. The real fighters know that Van Damme is not a fighter – and that’s a fact!�
Don Wilson, whose verbal feuds and alleged challenges to Van Damme have been the subject of Hollywood gossip rags for years, is of the same opinion as Alexio.
“I never challenged Van Damme because Van Damme is not a fighter, he is an actor. It would be like Mike Tyson challenging Sylvester Stallone.�
Former WKA Super Lightweight world champion, Dida Diafat, is a close friend of Van Damme’s and vouches for the ‘Muscles from Brussels’ fighting prowess.
“I have sparred with many great champions such as Rob Kaman, but Jean Claude has legs like I have never seen in my life,� said Diafat. “His legs are too fast and strong, even for me. He is not big but he is incredibly strong.�
Michael Quissi starred as Tong Po, Van Damme’s nemesis in the movie Kickboxer. A childhood friend of Van Damme’s, Quissi once told Martial Arts Illustrated that Van Damme was the real thing.
“Jean Claude used to train in traditional Shotokn Karate. His team won the European Championship and that is the best title he has won to date. Jean Claude had great kicks and was scoring a lot of Ippon.
“Jean Claude had one full contact fight against an opponent who had one previous fight. They both knew each other from Shotokan to full contact. They fought and Jean Claude won in 30 seconds. He opened the guy’s nose with the nail of his big toe.�
Van Damme sheds more light on his ring career. “When I fought it was under the name Jean Claude Van Varenberg. I was a middleweight and I became world champion in 15 seconds by knockout in Belgium. I fought the same day that Domenic Valera fought in Belgium. At that time kickboxing was very primitive. I did light contact, full contact and Shotokan Karate and I even have tapes of when I was fighting. Before I was a nice guy but now I am vicious, I go for the legs!�
The final comments come from one of Van Damme’s best friends, former trainer and 7th dan black belt Ben Buise.
“I was a teachr at a school owned by Claude Goetz (now named ‘The Golden Club’) in Belgium under the FBK. Jean Claude trained at the school under me. In fact, I was the one who raised Jean Claude. I couldn’t shake him.
“Jean Claude began competing in 1974. I was there the first time he competed. He was orange belt participating in competitions for beginners. He was very scared and annoyed me so much that I was forced to slap him in the face. I said, ‘You go fight that man or I’m gonna take care of you myself.’ He then entered the ring kicking the hell out of the other guy.
“Jean Claude first practised Shotokan and then when kickboxing came in the whole club switched to that. He was European champion in semi-contact point fighting.
“His last kickboxing fight was in 1979 at the Forest National in front of 10,000 people. He fought on the Domenic Valera – Macarusu undercard. Jean Claude won the fight in 30 seconds. He defeated the world middleweight champion and consequently won the world middleweight title in that organisation. They had to take the opponent to the hospital because Jean Claude caught him with a spinning hook kick and tore his nose off. Believe me – I was there. I fought on the night as well.�
Ben further elaborated on Van Dame’s physical ability.
“His legs are phenomenal. He has power like you wouldn’t believe, speed like you could not imagine and a stretch that is beyond normal. He can use his feet like you use your hands. Don’t believe what people say about his flexibility all coming from ballet. It came naturally and through the martial arts. In the gym he could kick an 80kg bag and slam it into the wall.�
REALISTICALLY?
Okay, let’s talk turkey now. A 44 year old actor who hasn’t fought since 1979 wants to step up to the plate in K-1 and win a world title?
Given his size, the world title Van Damme is talking about would be the K-1 Max Crown. So Van Damme wants to take on the likes of Parr, Zambidis, Kraus and Masato? I don’t think so!
While it’s great to see K-1 get some publicity out of Van Damme making mention of the organisation, the Muscles from Brussels has to face reality. There’s a difference between kicking for camera, sparring famous friends and getting in the K-1 ring for real with an opponent looking to take your name and your level of consciousness. A Parr or Zambidis operating at only 30 percent would overwhelm Van Damme, of that there is no doubt.
Staging an exhibition match might be something for K-1 to consider, but a full bout in the K-1 Max against any of the organisation’s top flighters would be Van Damme’s worse career move yet… yes, even worse than ‘Nowhere to Run’. IK (bron: www.sportzblitz.net/international-kickboxer))
Jean-Claude Van Damme wants to fight in K-1. But has the 44-year-old got what it takes to mix it up in the Max?
Van Damme was scouting locations for his latest film in Bucharest, Romania when he commented to the Realitatea Romanesca newspaper that he plans to make a return to fight competitions with the aim of winning the K-1 world title.
“I am planning to go back to fighting next year when I am 45. I gave up fighting a long time ago because it offers no perspectives and there are people who do not respect their art. But now I want to fight again to prove something to myself. I’d be the first actor to fight in K-1 and also the oldest competitor.�
Van Damme’s comments have caused a stir on internet chat boards the world over with kickboxing fans unsure whether to take the action star seriously or view his comments as a publicity stunt. Following the hoo-haa made over Mike Tyson’s ‘signing’ with K-1, fans tread cautiously when it comes to the contracting of big names.
After the signings of retired boxers, former NFL stars and sumotori, K-1 signing Van Damme to fights – even exhibition fights – would not surprise. The question then arises: how well equipped would Van Damme be in the ring?
“I’ve had enough of people saying Van Damme this, Van Damme that… I am a real fighter, I can kick like a fucking buffalo. If a guy comes to me and puts his guard on, I’ll kick him three feet in the air. If you don’t believe me then that is your right but bring me some guys and let them tell me I am full of shit. Watch Bloodsport and bring any champion next to you and let them watch it and tell you if I am full of shit.�
From his house in Honolulu, Hawaii, we spoke to former world heavyweight champion Dennis Alexio, who co-starred with Van Damme in Kickboxer, a film which grossed more than $90 million worldwide.
“Jean Claude is not a kickboxer,� said Alexio. “Jean Claude told me that he only ever had one fight and that Domenic Valera was his trainer. I spoke to Domenic and he said that Jean Claude never fought full contact and never trained to fight in the ring.
“We never really sparred in Thailand on the set of Kickboxer. We tapped around and played tag and Jean Claude has good flexibility but he is not a fighter by any means at all. He has some decent weapons such as his right leg side kick and a nice heel kick; he is capable to a degree but not on a world class level or even a competitive professional level. The real fighters know that Van Damme is not a fighter – and that’s a fact!�
Don Wilson, whose verbal feuds and alleged challenges to Van Damme have been the subject of Hollywood gossip rags for years, is of the same opinion as Alexio.
“I never challenged Van Damme because Van Damme is not a fighter, he is an actor. It would be like Mike Tyson challenging Sylvester Stallone.�
Former WKA Super Lightweight world champion, Dida Diafat, is a close friend of Van Damme’s and vouches for the ‘Muscles from Brussels’ fighting prowess.
“I have sparred with many great champions such as Rob Kaman, but Jean Claude has legs like I have never seen in my life,� said Diafat. “His legs are too fast and strong, even for me. He is not big but he is incredibly strong.�
Michael Quissi starred as Tong Po, Van Damme’s nemesis in the movie Kickboxer. A childhood friend of Van Damme’s, Quissi once told Martial Arts Illustrated that Van Damme was the real thing.
“Jean Claude used to train in traditional Shotokn Karate. His team won the European Championship and that is the best title he has won to date. Jean Claude had great kicks and was scoring a lot of Ippon.
“Jean Claude had one full contact fight against an opponent who had one previous fight. They both knew each other from Shotokan to full contact. They fought and Jean Claude won in 30 seconds. He opened the guy’s nose with the nail of his big toe.�
Van Damme sheds more light on his ring career. “When I fought it was under the name Jean Claude Van Varenberg. I was a middleweight and I became world champion in 15 seconds by knockout in Belgium. I fought the same day that Domenic Valera fought in Belgium. At that time kickboxing was very primitive. I did light contact, full contact and Shotokan Karate and I even have tapes of when I was fighting. Before I was a nice guy but now I am vicious, I go for the legs!�
The final comments come from one of Van Damme’s best friends, former trainer and 7th dan black belt Ben Buise.
“I was a teachr at a school owned by Claude Goetz (now named ‘The Golden Club’) in Belgium under the FBK. Jean Claude trained at the school under me. In fact, I was the one who raised Jean Claude. I couldn’t shake him.
“Jean Claude began competing in 1974. I was there the first time he competed. He was orange belt participating in competitions for beginners. He was very scared and annoyed me so much that I was forced to slap him in the face. I said, ‘You go fight that man or I’m gonna take care of you myself.’ He then entered the ring kicking the hell out of the other guy.
“Jean Claude first practised Shotokan and then when kickboxing came in the whole club switched to that. He was European champion in semi-contact point fighting.
“His last kickboxing fight was in 1979 at the Forest National in front of 10,000 people. He fought on the Domenic Valera – Macarusu undercard. Jean Claude won the fight in 30 seconds. He defeated the world middleweight champion and consequently won the world middleweight title in that organisation. They had to take the opponent to the hospital because Jean Claude caught him with a spinning hook kick and tore his nose off. Believe me – I was there. I fought on the night as well.�
Ben further elaborated on Van Dame’s physical ability.
“His legs are phenomenal. He has power like you wouldn’t believe, speed like you could not imagine and a stretch that is beyond normal. He can use his feet like you use your hands. Don’t believe what people say about his flexibility all coming from ballet. It came naturally and through the martial arts. In the gym he could kick an 80kg bag and slam it into the wall.�
REALISTICALLY?
Okay, let’s talk turkey now. A 44 year old actor who hasn’t fought since 1979 wants to step up to the plate in K-1 and win a world title?
Given his size, the world title Van Damme is talking about would be the K-1 Max Crown. So Van Damme wants to take on the likes of Parr, Zambidis, Kraus and Masato? I don’t think so!
While it’s great to see K-1 get some publicity out of Van Damme making mention of the organisation, the Muscles from Brussels has to face reality. There’s a difference between kicking for camera, sparring famous friends and getting in the K-1 ring for real with an opponent looking to take your name and your level of consciousness. A Parr or Zambidis operating at only 30 percent would overwhelm Van Damme, of that there is no doubt.
Staging an exhibition match might be something for K-1 to consider, but a full bout in the K-1 Max against any of the organisation’s top flighters would be Van Damme’s worse career move yet… yes, even worse than ‘Nowhere to Run’. IK (bron: www.sportzblitz.net/international-kickboxer))