The Untold Rivalry of Steven Seagal vs Jean-Claude Van Damme

In this video, we explore the untold story behind one of the most intense rivalries in martial arts and action movie history: Steven Seagal vs. Jean-Claude Van Damme. These two legends dominated the big screen in the 80s and 90s, with Seagal’s stoic, grounded Aikido style and Van Damme’s high-energy, kickboxing flair. But their rivalry extended beyond the silver screen, fueled by pride, ego, and personal feuds.

We’ll dive into their very different paths to stardom, from Van Damme’s humble beginnings as a sparring partner for Chuck Norris to Seagal’s training in Japan, where he became the first foreigner to run an Aikido dojo. From backstage confrontations to outrageous urban legends (like Seagal’s infamous run-in with judo master Gene LeBell), we leave no stone unturned.

Plus, we analyze their lasting legacies, showing why fans continue to root for Van Damme while Seagal’s reputation has faltered. Was there ever a real chance they would fight for $20 million in Las Vegas? And who would have won? Join us as we uncover the truth behind the ultimate martial arts showdown.

Check out our related videos on Steven Seagal’s feuds with other martial artists!

#VanDamme #StevenSeagal #goldenbelltraining
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Steven Seagal vs Frank Dux | When Bullshido Masters Collide → https://youtu.be/S_ARRo2qwMw
Three Times Steven Seagal RAN From A Fight → https://youtu.be/wSZP-kXXDyk
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what happens when two of the biggest action stars with very different philosophies go head-to-head in the ultimate rivalry Steven Sagal versus jeanclaude vanam two martial arts Legends with careers shaped by Fame controversy and Larger than Life personas but when fans look back there’s one clear winner and it’s not the one that you might expect but guys like Steven seig you could beat his with your hand tied behind your back right I mean he’s a big fat guy right he’s a nice guy despite both men having their fair share of scandals and personal challenges vanam continues to stand tall in the court of public opinion while Steven Seagal’s reputation is faltered why is that what does this rivalry tell us about the way that we judge Our Heroes in today’s video we’ll uncover the untold story behind the iconic Feud and answer the burning question why does jeanclaude vanam still hold the crown despite all the odds anybody see Richie huh in the 90s action Cinema was dominated by Titans like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone but while these two icons had a friendly rivalry the feud between vanam and Sagal was something else entirely it was intense personal and at times downright explosive this wasn’t just about who could pull off the best action sequences this was about Pride ego and the very real question of who was the tougher martial artist who tougher you or he I run faster uh-huh can I laugh in your face really yes let’s dive into how it all began and why this rivalry still fascinates fans decades later our story starts long before Hollywood ever came calling vanam and Seagal couldn’t have had more different backgrounds my first gu once described himself as the Fred stair of karate I’m not sure I know what that means we’ll find out millions of people have gotten kick out on my next guest in such films as uh Blood Sport cyborg kickboxer hey ladies and gentlemen here is the muscles from Brussels jeanclaude vanam jeanclaude Camille fris Von venberg better known as jeanclaude vanam was born in Brussels Belgium in 1960 when you were a kid right you were not always the Jean clad vam we know today okay the biggest fight was against myself it’s hard to believe when I was a kid I was very small very skinny like a nerd you know as a boy he was described as frail lacking in self-confidence but his father recognizing his son’s need to build physical and mental strength enrolled him in shodokan karate at the age of 10 this would be the first step in a journey that transformed him into the muscles from Brussels vanam didn’t just stop at karate by his late teens he had also taken up kickboxing a move that would lay the foundation for success in both martial arts and in cinema he competed across Europe racking up wins and reputation as a fighter to watch By 1979 he had won the European karate Championship as part of the Belgian karate team he even dabbled in bodybuilding winning the Mr Belgium title in 1978 vend Dam’s early years were all about proving himself proving that he could be more than the frail child he once was but Van Dam’s Ambitions didn’t end with martial arts they stretched all the way across the Atlantic to Hollywood vanam moved to the United States in the early 80s and like many aspiring actors he struggled he worked odd jobs including delivering pizzas while hustling for small acting gigs you had a struggle when you you went out to LA in what was it 1980 881 around there 81 82 I I drove taxi I did the limousine I was upgr how did you actually get started cuz you put flyers on windshields didn’t you I talked to everybody producer director and one day when I came in in the restaurant a guy came out he was a big producer with few Chinese guy his name was manm Goan and I told him manm Jean Claud vanam remember and you go no my friend like guy from Israel so I I did like a demonstration on the street and I kicked him above his head and he gave me a card and the next day I was in his office and I came for a small part his big break came in 1986 when he played the villain in no retreat no surrender but the real Turning Point came 2 years later later with blood sport van damit fought tooth and nail to get blood sport released he even helped re-edit the film and when it finally hit theaters it became an instant cult classic the Underdog Story much like vend Dam’s own life resonated with audiences his explosive kicks and the now iconic split solidified him as Hollywood’s next martial arts sensation and on the other side of the world Steven Sagal was also making his Mark though his path couldn’t have been more different my first guest is elbowed his way the front ranks of Hollywood’s top action stars is one part thespian one part ninja and three-parts deadly jungle cat at the star of such films As Above the Law hard to kill and Marked for Death he’s a seventh down black belt in the Japanese art of iido ladies and Gentlemen please say hello to the one the only Steven Sagal born in 1952 in Lancing Michigan Steven Frederick seagull had a fascination with martial arts from an early age but it wasn’t until his family moved to Fuller in California that his journey truly began around the age of 13 seagull started studying karate under fumio deura a renowned martial arts master but karate wasn’t where seagull would make his name that was probably again 17 18 see after that I left for Asia and then did you go to Asia that young yeah see I always thought you went to Asia when you were like your mid 20s or something no no no no oh okay in the early 1970s seagull moved to Japan can a rare feat for a Westerner at that time to study iido a martial art that emphasizes using an opponent’s energy against them seagull’s time in Japan was transformative he fully immersed himself in the culture and under the tutelage of Masters like kichi to he earned his black belt started out studying martial arts acupuncture herbality bone manipulation things like that and then from there I went into uh uh some writing and security operations and things like that and uh Then I then I started teaching the martial arts this is Steve seagull the only non-japanese iido Master ever in the history of Japan to own and operate an iido school on Japanese soil by the time he returned to the US Sagal had become known as the first Foreigner to run an Aikido Dojo in Japan now Steven’s ex-wife running that dojo in aaka might say something different but hey we won’t let the truth get in the way of a good story well anyway back to our story while vanam was battling his way up through small budget films sagal’s entry in Hollywood was well it was a lot smoother his connection with Hollywood Elites including super agent Michael Ovitz helped land him his debut role and above the law in 1988 there’s so many stories that float around as to how you got involved in Hollywood one is that Mike Ovitz was a former student of yours and he took you to Warner Brothers you did an iido demonstration and Warner Brothers was blown away and boom Stevens s go became a movie star is that true and if not I hate to admit it that is true okay sagal’s stoic on screen presence and unique fighting style rooted in the fluid defensive movements of iido quickly made him a standout in the crowded action genre he wasn’t just another musclebound action star he was the calm almost mystical martial artist who could throw bad guys around with barely a flick of the wrist in the late 80s and early ’90s both men seemed poised to become the next big thing in action Cinema fand Dam’s hits like universal Soldier kickboxer and time cop were putting him at the top of the box office while Seagal’s hard to kill Marked for Death and especially Under Siege were doing the same thing for him they were both on fire until the Rivalry really started to heat up now to understand the Rivalry you first need to understand how different their martial arts styles were both on screen and off I think Steven seigal and myself we both different and and um we are I believe the new action star and he’s a wonderful guy John Claude vanam brought a high octane visually thrilling approach to fight choreography with his kickboxing background combined with his flexibility and athleticism created a dynamic style that audiences loved his moves were designed for the camera highflying kicks spinning heel strikes and of course the famous splits Van Dam’s fight scenes felt like carefully choreogra R dance routines with each strike perfectly timed for maximum visual impact Steven Sagal is does he do what you do essentially is he a martial arts uh yeah different type of martial arts uh aido Steven Sagal Style on the other hand was the polar opposite iido was all about redirecting opponents energy using their momentum against them sagal’s fight scenes were brutally efficient no unnecessary movement no flash his characters would break bones and CS opponents with minimal effort relying on joint locks wrist twists and throws while some critics found Seagal’s fights less exciting than van dams others appreciated the grounded non-nonsense gritty approach the contrast in their fighting styles mirror their personalities both on and off screen vanam was energetic charismatic and always ready to perform for his fans Sagal by contrast was reserved even aloof often criticized for taking himself too seriously do you know people at the [Music] CIA I might have met a couple of folks once or twice have you ever lived a dangerous life that might be like the lives they live when you’re into CIA I did a couple of things you know once or twice the LI detector test determined that was a lie oh my did did you or did you not work with the CIA did I make that up or people just saying that to be funny or did you actually have a job with a Central Intelligence Agency I like the way you say that um well you know it’s kind of a personal thing Dave and it’s this difference in attitude that really spark the Flames of their rivalry on screen both John Claude vanam and Steven Seagal played Invincible action heroes men who could take on entire armies without breaking a sweat but what happens when the cameras stop rolling how do their offscreen lives compar to the Unstoppable forces that they portray onc screen Van Dam’s journey to stardom was rooted in respect for the martial arts Community early in his career vanam worked as a sparring partner for none other than Chuck Norris it’s an interesting detail that shows Van Dam’s humility and willingness to learn from established martial artists he wasn’t afraid to pay his dues and work his way up the ranks his relationships with other martial artists were built on Mutual ual respect and that carried over into his Public Image of someone who respected the martial arts tradition Sagal on the other hand took a very different approach in one of his first major interviews rather than aligning himself with the martial arts Community Sagal Came Out Swinging criticizing Chuck Norris and even issuing an open challenge to his friends and colleagues Sagal wasn’t shy about making enemies early on and that bold confrontational attitude it became a defining feature of his offscreen Persona you still fine yes I do you still dangerous in that same interview in the LA Times Sagar also took aim at his rival at the time Frank Dukes the very same Frank Dukes who had inspired Blood Sport vend Dam’s breakout role Steven Seagal said anyone claiming to teach Ninjutsu in America is a fraud but hey man here’s the thing about Ninjutsu it’s one of those things that only real ninjas no that will make you Frank Ducks no no no it’s Dukes gotcha it was a bold move and one that further solidified cigar’s reputation as a lone wolf in the martial arts world how good is cigal I don’t truthfully I don’t know I don’t know Stephen I’ve only met him once Jean claude’s pretty good he can’t tell just from from seeing his movie martial art see most of seal’s movies his action is done close up you really can’t see everything is Real Quick Cuts so you don’t get a chance to really see exactly what he’s doing where uh with vam uh vam you know trained with me for a year and a half when he came over from Brussels so I know him quite well Steven sagal’s early attacks on both Chuck Norris and Frank Duke set him apart as someone who wasn’t interested in forming alliances but instead saw himself As Above the Rest the contrast between these two men one who started his career sparring with Legends and the other who publicly challenged them highlights the fundamental differences in how vanam and Seagal approached their rise to fame Van Dam’s relationships within the martial arts community and his respect for its Traditions helped him maintain a more good guy image even through personal struggles sagal’s combative approach on the other hand helped cultivate a more divisive reputation one that would follow him for years to come for vanam his personal life has been a roller coaster despite becoming an international star he faced significant ch challenges behind the scenes marital issues struggles with substance abuse and a very public fight with addiction in the ’90s in many ways his real life mirrored The Comebacks of his onscreen characters and yet vanam has largely managed to maintain a good guy image in the public eye his openness about his struggles particularly in later years and his willingness to poke fun at himself in films like jcvd help fans see him as a relatable figure someone who fought his own demons and came out stronger Van Dam’s vulnerability and growth made him someone fans could root for not just on screen but in real life despite his flaws there was always a sense that vanam was trying to better himself his reputation as a flawed But ultimately likable figure has only grown with time turning him into an action star who people not only respect but genuinely care for Steven sagal’s offscreen Persona however is far more contentious while his early career was marked by mystery and Intrigue this stoic almost mystical martial artist his public reputation took a hit over the years allegations of misconduct clashes with fellow martial artists and accusations of false claims about his martial arts prowess have left sagal’s Public Image tarnished unlike vanam who embraced his faults sagal’s attempts to maintain an air of invincibility offscreen often worked against him his refusal to acknowledge his controversies has left him more isolated in the public eye and his reputation has suffered as a result the media and the fans played significant roles in shaping these narratives vanam with his self-deprecating humor and transparency allowed the public to see his Humanity Sagal on the other hand continued to present himself as Untouchable and when cracks in that Persona appeared they only fueled the perception that cagar was hiding something change the subject the contrast between these two men shows how much the public values humility and self-awareness in his Heroes and how quickly a hero can fall when they refuse to let down the mask and let’s be honest both vanam and Sagal have been involved in some pretty bizarre incidents over the years the Larger than Life personas they cultivated on screen sometimes spilled over into real life in the strangest ways Chuck man you are the man oh man you’re the man Jesus you slap John CL M let’s go through the whole story what were you doing in scores that night take for example the little known story of Van Dam’s Feud with actor in bodyguard and Chuck Zito according to reports the two got into a heated argument at scores a gentleman’s club in New York back in 1998 zitto a former boxer and Hell’s Angels member allegedly knocked vanam out cold with a single punch it’s one of those wild stories that’s so outrageous you think it was scripted but nope a fight really happened although it wasn’t the version of the story where vanam was knocked out with a single punch zitto shared the story on the Howard Stern Show I hit him right hand left H and he went down no you see this is what I’m here to clear today heard so many stories that and so many versions of it and vanam actually acknowledged that he took an ill that night did he crap his pants I don’t know how to check it did you smell anything it goes good good old he just he beines he beines to the bathroom he he comes out smells like everywhere the guy choked the out of Stevens my ass is full of he everywhere look what he did he all over the wall but then on the other side of the coin there’s the urban legend involving Sagal and the late grappling Master Judo Jean leel everyone’s heard that story but the story goes that during the filming of out for justice Sagal made the Bold claim that no one could choke him out anybody know why Richie did Bobby L leel A legendary stunt man and martial artist decided to test that theory now as The Story Goes leel put Seagal in a choke hold and not only did Steven Seagal pass out but he also well how can we put this delicately let’s say he soiled himself St seigal all those karate movies remember them things he in his pants I dig twice can I laugh in your face now most versions of this story are extreme ex L exaggerated and some people say that it never even happened and I mean I have at least two videos on this channel about what actually happened based on what Steven Lambert may have witnessed but it’s a tale that has followed Steven Seagal for years becoming a piece of martial arts folklore Steven Seagal of course has denied that the incident ever took place he wanted to stretch my back and he stretched my back and then I just kind of you know flipped over the the top of him and and said thank you for that but like most Tall Tales it continues to live on adding to the Mystique and absurdity of his public Persona both vanam and Seagal For Better or Worse became entangled in these wild sometimes ridiculous stories that only enhanced their Larger than Life personas their feuds their clashes and their public scandals became the stuff of Hollywood Legend leaving fans with plenty to talk about and plenty to laugh about too if you got in a fight with like Jackie Chan Steven Sagal and you who do you think would win uh well the seeds of their rivalry were planted on the talk show circuit most notably during separate interviews on the arcenio Hall Show who would win if you and Steven Seagal had a fight below or above the belt oh now now explain that now it’s very easy um I I don’t know uh above the belt above the Bel yes of course me now if I had to said below the belt what would you have answer of course me he’s a wonderful guy in the early 90s Sagal made waves when he dismissed vend Dam’s credentials when asked about his contemporaries in the martial arts World Sagar brushed off vend Dam’s competitive record implying that well it was a matter of opinion whether vanam had ever truly been a champion I think think that that’s a matter of opinion that he was a champion anywhere you know and I mean you know I’m not being caddy or anything I wish the guy all the best but there are an awful lot of people who say that that’s not true for his part vanam took the high road mostly but in interviews he remained humble occasionally offering a cheeky remark but he never fully engaged in sagal’s war of words you could beat his though right he’s not a real karate man is he he can’t lift his leg could he lift his leg over his uh like could he even get he he couldn’t even hit you in the nuts with his leg could he he can hardly lift his leg to walk right right Sean Claud yeah but maybe I mean I don’t know I he’s a nice guy that said rumors began circulating that the two were privately fuming at one another vanam ever the competitor reportedly wanted to confront Seagal and settle their differences not just with words but with fists too but things didn’t stop there in a 2023 interview with a telegraph vanam revealed that in the early 90s Sony Pictures co-president and CEO Peter goober made both actors an incredible offer $20 million each to fight one another in a Las Vegas sporting event the idea was simple two action stars with a very real rivalry fighting in front of millions of fans live but while vanam was ready to go Steven cagar refused and according to vanam this was the the third time Sagal had refused to fight him an awkward situation for someone who had publicly initiated their hostilities sagal’s refusal only fueled rumors that his tough guy persona on screen didn’t quite match up to his actions in real life but behind the scenes tensions were mounting according to Sylvester Stallone the Rivalry nearly came to blows at a party in the late 90s vanam tired of Seagal’s tough talk confronted him and challenged him to a fight he waited two hours outside for him but Sagal well he reportedly left the party refusing to engage well later that night the confrontation nearly spilled over again when vanam followed Sagal to a nightclub in Miami reportedly still eager to settle the score but once again no punches were thrown because Steven cagar ran instead the incident only fueled rumors and solidified their rivalry in the Public’s imagination is that true he got in a fight with you no I I it’d be like me squashing an ant I don’t remember well I’m I don’t know if it was the inquire but I remember reading something about that come on you Larry thought he said he did like a spinning double TST kick on the front of his if he sees me he runs well he said that he whooped some aito ass or something I don’t know come on it wasn’t just about who had the better moves on screen anymore now it was personal well let’s fast forward to the Pres and the Rivalry it’s still a Hot Topic among fans do I think Jean Cloud’s a tough car martial arts no recently I conducted a poll asking you guys to weigh in in their Prime who would win in a real fight and who had the better film career the results over 5,000 votes came in and an overwhelming 90% of you guys chose vanam let’s take a look at some of your comments Jean actually wanted to challenge Steve back in the 90s unfortunately Steve didn’t want to fight him Seagal is Wake as piss vanam has a legitimate kickboxing record that says more than enough about who would win Steven would obliterate vanam in a national eating contest Jean could crush a walnut with his butt game over the comments really speak for themselves don’t they there’s a clear preference for vanam not just in terms of who would win in a fight but who had the better overall career many fans point to Van Dam’s actual competitive kickboxing record as evidence of his legitimacy while sagal’s reputation has taken a hit over the years especially with fans who question his real life fighting experience but not everyone was ready to count Seagal out one commenter pointed out that Seagal’s size and iido training could give him the upper hand in a real street fight where joint locks and throws might come into play but the majority of fans seem to believe that vanam speed agility and Powerful strikes would ultimately carry the day but at the heart of the Steven Sagal versus jeanclaude vanam rivalry is something deeper than just martial arts or movie stardom it’s about the myth of the action hero what they represent to audiences and why we’re so captivated by them in the 80s and 90s action heroes became more than just movie characters they became symbols these men weren’t just fighting bad guys on screen they were fighting for something bigger they represented strength Independence and an unwavering sense of justice in a world filled with uncertainty these Heroes were the constant the guys who would get the job done no matter what vanam and Seagal like Stallone and Schwarzenegger before them tapped into that myth but while vanam embodied the idea of hard work and Redemption the flawed hero who makes mistakes but ultimately redeems himself Sagar represented something different the Invincible man the stoic Warrior who couldn’t be touched both appealed to different aspects of what people wanted in their action Stars Van Dam’s appeal lies in his ability to show vulnerability he’s a man who has fallen and gotten back up both on and off screen his openness about his struggles with addiction his personal flaws and his Humanity make him relatable fans forgive him because they see themselves in him imperfect but always striving to be better Sagal by contrast his cult cated an aura of untouchability his characters and by extension his offscreen Persona are built around the idea that nothing can hurt him and while that can be appealing and a fictional Action Hero it’s a lot harder to relate to in real life when crack appeared in sagal’s armor it was harder for fans to empathize with someone who seemed unwilling to show his vulnerability at its core this rivalry isn’t just about two men it’s about the myth of the action hero why do we need these Larger than Life figures why do we forgive some and not others action heroes like vanam and Seagal represent our ideas of masculinity strength and justice but as our culture has evolved so too of our expectations of those Heroes we want them to be strong yes but we also want them to be human and perhaps that’s why in the long run vanam has managed to hold on to his crown because he’s shown us his Humanity he’s the hero who Falls but always gets back up so where are they now let’s talk about how these two legends have fared in the years since their rivalry first made headlines jeanclaude vanam shown surprising growth as an actor in 2008 he starred in jcvd a film where he played a fictionalized version of himself the movie was a critical success with vanam delivering a heartfelt self-aware performance that earned him respect from both fans and critics alike he’s also starred in smaller but well-received films like the Bouncer and even had a notable villainous role in The Expendables too and then there’s his viral Volvo commercial where vanam performs his famous splits between two moving trucks he’s also done quite a few cool Netflix movies and it’s moments like this that have kept vanam relevant not just as a martial artist but as a pop culture icon now Steven Sagal on the other hand he’s taking a different path his career has shifted largely to direct to video films where his performance haven’t evolved much since his 99s Heyday he continues to work steadily but his films haven’t made the same impact as they once did well unless you’re a stunt man working on them in those films he did with Steven sagala he was actually hitting the stuntman like oh hell yeah he’s known for that he’s known for that hell yeah so how would the stman react after getting punched by Steven Sagar ouch personal controversies including allegations of misconduct and his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin have further complicated Seagal’s Public Image in the end the Rivalry between John Claude vanam and Steven Seagal wasn’t just about who could throw the better Punch or who had the more effective martial arts it was a clash of personalities fighting styles and public perception while Sagal may have been the bigger more imposing figure Van Dam’s Dynamic fighting style combined with his willingness to embrace his flaws and grow as an actor has made him the fan favorite so what do you think with Seagal’s iido a big too much for Van Dam’s kicks or would Van Dam’s competitive Spirit have won out in the end let us know in the comments below and I’ll be checking in to see what you have to say and if you’re interested in hearing more about Steven Seagal’s other feuds with martial artist hey be sure to check out our video Steven Sagal versus Frank Dukes when bullido Masters Collide and three times Steven seagar ran from a fight I promise you won’t want to miss any of those stories and as always hey y’all keep training remember to breathe come back and holler at me in the next video