Jean-Claude Van Damme

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When you think of a hero what attributes come to mind? Who do you think has these abilities? I believe Jean-Claude Van Damme has some of the qualities and attributes that a hero should have. He has strength, determination, and superior fighting skills.

Strength is one of Van Damme’s heroic characteristics for sure. He lifted weights to attain better physique which gave him the “Mr. Belgium” bodybuilding title. Jean-Claude also entered the European Full Contact competitions. In his first tournament he destroyed his competitors with three knockouts in one night. The strength it takes to win a national bodybuilding competition and compete in full contact fighting kickboxing competitions truly qualifies as a heroic ability.

Van Damme also has a great amount of determination. He lost a Belgium Lightweight Title match in 1978 to Patrick Teugels. However, he did not let it bring him down. He trained harder and longer and made an amazing comeback, in Iseghem, Belgium, knocking out Emile Leibman in the first round. This helped lead him and the Belgium Team to win the European Championship. His determination is just one more of his heroic qualities.

His superior fighting skills give him yet another heroic attribute. Although he stars in many martial art based movies such as Bloodsport, Double Impact and Universal Soldier, he also is a very talented fighter in real life. He was only 12 when he first started training in martial arts at Centre National De Karate under Master Claude Goetz in Ixelles, Belgium. He fought on the Belgium karate team in matches such as the WAKO International Open and the European Full Contact competition where they became European champions. It takes superior fighting skills to accomplish these things.

Strength, determination, and superior fighting skills are three attributes every hero should possess. Jean-Claude Van Damme has them all. Those characteristics make him my hero.