Before he rose to fame as a global action star, Jean-Claude Van Damme was a shy and delicate boy growing up in 1960s Brussels. Wearing thick glasses and frequently battling illness, he hardly seemed destined for the world of martial arts and movie stardom. Yet, beneath his quiet and fragile appearance lay an unexpected passion: ballet. For five years, Van Damme trained rigorously and even performed on the prestigious stage of the Paris Opera, showing a side few would later associate with the tough fighter he became.
Ballet gave him far more than just grace and poise; it instilled in him a strong sense of balance, discipline, and precision qualities that would later define his unique fighting style. Concerned about his health, his father encouraged him to take up karate, setting off a second powerful passion that would change the course of his life. Combining the control and finesse from ballet with the power and technique of martial arts, Van Damme created a distinctive approach to fighting that set him apart from others.