The making of "The Epic Split" featuring Jean Claude Van Damme

The making of "The Epic Split" featuring Jean Claude Van Damme with Full Test Reel
Jean-Claude Van Damme, one of the world's most famous martial artists and star of countless Hollywood blockbusters, takes the lead role in Volvo Trucks' latest film 'The Epic Split'.
The film, which will be released on November 14, is the latest in a series from Volvo Trucks that feature spectacular ways of demonstrating its trucks' unique handling capabilities. In 'The Epic Split', Van Damme performs one of his trademark splits in an incredible world-first stunt.
The purpose of the film is to demonstrate the stability and precision of Volvo Dynamic Steering, and it follows on from previous viral hits including 'The Ballerina Stunt', 'The Hook', 'The Hamster' and 'The Chase'.
www.carnutheaven.com/

[@mogusmonroe9431]

Seven years later, this is still the most incredible thing I have seen on youtube.

[@ashokatano7707]

Same. I think about this ad like every month

[@yamatotakeru9078]

TRUE

[@theflyingninja1]

It's fake. Van Damme hasn't done the splits since the mid-90s.

[@EFreD-ed4ds]

@@theflyingninja1 The nineties were a scam altogether.

[@jrufussimonsen4718]

@@theflyingninja1 No it is not fake.

[@rockelino]

No trucks were hurt by Jean-Claude Van Damme during the making of this commercial.

[@tapariyasandip7186]

Haha 😂

[@akhrormuminov7180]

🤣🤣🤣

[@morinmacias3907]

OMG LOL I love this comment

[@kenhurley4441]

Well,,,,, one of them did get a bang out of it. No both of them did!

[@rabinraj15]

😂😂😂😂

[@Good1vibes]

In reality, Van Damme pushed the Volvo trucks apart.

[@roryasrorri701]

that's more believable, i think

[@srteight]

Only Chuck Norris could sir…

[@samithdhananjan6918]

This is undoubtedly the most legendary commercial ever produced in the world..💯❤️

[@Mihawk1848]

One of those dislikes is from steven seagal..lol

[@vladmihai306]

And one of the likes is from Chuck Norris. Jean inspired him to do the split on the two airplanes.

[@coby9282]

"My saaafespace...." :D (south park reference for those who wonder)

[@Waranus36]

@@vladmihai306 You're right! :D

[@onlinecitizen3266]

Has Seagal ever performed an impressive athletic feat? I mean, other than expelling inhuman levels of hot air and bullshit.

[@laboneza]

lol

[@Rookz]

Not gonna lie, this is one of the very few commercials I am willingly watching over and over for years to come

[@ALSAADIMO]

Me too

[@guiyuanful]

Same... Genuine, moving. Very rare

[@GhostinTube]

Yea I know right.if this advert replaces every as before an KZbin video I wouldn't skip the ad.

[@Mrbimmer11]

SAME

[@Sanyi1988]

Jó reklám 🥋😎💪👍

[@kenneth6102]

I really love Van Damme because he really takes care of the trucks. He was spending the time with the engineers to make sure that the trucks are strong enough and aren't going to be injured performing the stunt. What a legend!!!

[@caffecentralsmith1954]

🤣

[@MsLuciafra]

😂😂😂

[@madelineeve8691]

Lol you were awesome with this comment two years later 😂

[@wangson]

ha! nice!!!

[@collinsa8909]

"... he really takes care of the trucks"! Wth man

[@jonasdauerbrenner6432]

he clearly didn't know what his agent booked him for :D

[@TMFproductionsTruthMediaFilms]

Yeah but his agent wins "agent of the century" award lol

[@HectorBadillaOfficial]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@MeNourovic]

He is a showman !

[@DataLog]

His agent booked a masterpiece.

[@tomroelofs1977]

oh they both knew, the making off feels more like an ad itself too. The end result is amazing tho

[@drmerlouby]

There are 4 legends . The man who created the idea and was brave to produce it, the 2 incredible drivers and Jean Claude.

[@frankbrown9563]

5 Еnya

[@pavnazwisko9196]

6 CGI

[@trollgon1328]

@@pavnazwisko9196 Jean Clode Van Dam 2 drivers 1 man who created this idea thats 6

[@gustavopereira4924]

As you can at 3:17 Jean Claude was both the drivers too...

[@helderboymh]

The true legend is the cgi guy that spend 10 days editing out the savety platform on one of the trucks.

[@Bustynator]

Anyone else here in 2020 wondering why this popped up?! It‘s 2021 now and this comment kind of exploded. Good to see that JCVD and Volvo still get a lot of ppl together. 😊

[@BreakFreeAddiction]

yep

[@slimak8888]

yes

[@stevethea5250]

@@BreakFreeAddiction they overdid the back music, should've just saved for ending clip

[@Chris-hw4mq]

I can feel his pain doing that split. KZbin algorithm is working as intended

[@opethforlife]

Yes sir

[@CanadianMang]

The guy telling him about the whole things gives off such a calm and compassionate vibe.

[@mariosavva999]

This is Scandinavians all over

[@fonainfinity5964]

@@mariosavva999 🇩🇰👍🇩🇰

[@rjcolombe]

You don't realize how powerful the voiceover, music and sunset are until you watch this several times.

[@Wilfreeltimido]

The best commertial ever

[@koneth21]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/roXHlmSDlreVgbc

[@davidmatthews1710]

Totally!!!!!!! 💪💪🤘🤘

[@jamestaggert4361]

commercial*

[@Kiliny]

best commercial... also the greatest resurection. Who would have thought back then JCVD would rise like the phoenix thanks to a truck commercial?

[@paulcwyuen]

It has to be at that perfect moment when the sun is just above the horizon, and enya's song is just perfect.

[@zc1369]

“Wait a second if they keep opening up, I can, fall down” true fear from the true legend😂

[@MrRashidTV]

i mean he has a point lol

[@offason]

Legend? He's the worst "actor" of all time 😂

[@MrRashidTV]

@@offason better than you, wiseau

[@christinablossom8242]

"I'll be finishing the shooting if I'm not dead".

[@user-zo6nn2ih2f]

the drivers where actually much harder to convince on the "full confidence of their abilities" part than him.

[@artistlindaleehall]

8 years later and I still have to watch this over and over, several times a year. Legendary.

[@Conceptcreator]

I just feel pain when looking at this! But mad respect!!!

[@Conceptcreator]

@Loui Burnito try doing a split like that...

[@subhendubiswas3013]

@@Conceptcreator it's more of a risk factor than pain actually. Van Damme did that split maybe a million times, so I think he already achieved that endurance years ago

[@Conceptcreator]

@@subhendubiswas3013 I know... But i did not. That is why i am saying that ;)

[@subhendubiswas3013]

@@Conceptcreator lol :)

[@EsoxLucius]

U still looking. So I am .

[@PixelRo]

That awkward moment when you replay an ad instead of skipping it

[@theaterofsouls]

hahahaha

[@jonathancineus6424]

Facts

[@JamieReynolds89]

I didnt even realise that was even possible on KZbin

[@marteung]

SOOOOOOO TRUE

[@petzkhie]

hahahahaha

[@GG-cn6es]

"We bought the rights to this song, we're using it in the damn making-of.

[@marteung]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@SirTomFoolery]

Bruh... Thats song is so beautiful. My heart cried

[@naseer2124]

Song name?

[@SirTomFoolery]

@@naseer2124 it's Remember the name by Fort Minor

[@vwlssnvwls3262]

The amount of faith put into those mirrors, drivers, road, and even shoes is mind boggling. I have always loved JCVD.

[@TheNitroG1]

The mirrors are actually platforms that were built onto the truck for the stunt i'm fairly sure. the top of a semi truck mirror is not flat.

[@elliestarrco]

It was 7 years ago and the way he takes off those glasses and puts them in his shirt is still iconic. My goodness

[@mrsteelheartz]

I was about to say the same thing too

[@kendalleve]

I agree ! Very normal-like. Such as his overall behaviour like taking a picture of the truck then giving a thumb up, looking up at the camera to make sure it has a good shot of the two mini-trucks while he’s given the explanation. I like his persona. There’s a lot of humble manliness in this video.

[@abobobilly]

Is there anyone who's going to acknowledge the absolutely perfect driving by those lorry drivers?

[@andrewmoss262]

yawwwn

[@andrewmoss262]

@Iu Iulitza that's the thing.. there is no editing .. safety rope is attached to mirrors and goes through his trouser and is hooked onto his belt... in worse case he will be hanging upside down between two trucks, should he lose the balance

[@TooTRUEtoBeG00D]

He did in the video. 1:21

[@shakazulu9163]

Clip was played backwards, the split was done first then the lorry drivers started moving and maintained speed and direction, plus slowly getting close to each other. It is too risky to do it any other way

[@TooTRUEtoBeG00D]

@@shakazulu9163 can you back any of that with real information? Because i smell bullshit.

[@videos4mydad]

I get goose-bumps every time I watch this. This was truly a masterpiece of engineering, photography, direction, and Jean Claude Van Damme!!!

[@noice8674]

You forgot the music. It really adds up to this masterpiece.

[@zo0olsan629]

And driving

[@helmandkhan837]

@@noice8674 the music belongs to Enya. she sang it like decades before this commercial

[@UnknownUser-re6yg]

You forgot the driving

[@shawncarter7188]

@@UnknownUser-re6yg absolutely, the two drivers are more impressive to me. They had to perfectly coordinate with and trust each other, as well as trust their own skills to achieve this.

[@stormqueen29]

And even after it all. The walkthrough, the storyboards, the explanation, the test drive, and his long career doing what he does, you can still see that moment of steadying himself to do it. But once he commits, he commits completely and all trace of doubt vanishes from his expression. He is completely confident in himself, the drivers, the trucks and the man who brought it all together.

[@Rai_S82]

When he was having the stunt explained to him, he must've been thinking "What the fuck have I just signed up to?!" 🤣 What an absolute legend. ❤

[@holger5455]

This could have gone wrong in a split-second

[@yengsabio5315]

Right! So true!

[@dbsirius]

He'd split his wig

[@TheSykoRC]

Lol

[@MrAtomicPhotography]

Badabum tsss!

[@cherokeeconcrete1986]

I see what you did there🤙🏾

[@Skycube100]

You can sense the fear in him, I love that he still went for it

[@jordanmcree2603]

what if he fell and got run over and ended up on a rekt thread on 4chan

[@lasttrendstandning2940]

Fear is natural he just sense what can happen if this doesn`t work

[@andrzejpelok2380]

This is CGI, haha

[@detox5454]

@@andrzejpelok2380 theres a littel bit, he actually does do the split on the moving trucks but he has a safety harness on and there were small platforms built on the mirrors for better stability and they edited them out

[@BrawndoQC]

It's not fear it's preparation.

[@Bodhi_B]

Sincerity, humility, almost naive. He's a child with discipline and precise purposes. Open minded, always curious and aware of others. We don't deserve him.

[@edwardfletcher7790]

So glad Van Damme is well now, he's an incredibly brave man dealing with the problems he's had in his life.

[@Riddler1001]

Don't matter if you like JCVD or not, this really is freaking epic.

[@alexaka1]

Just imagine the process. Volvo hires a marketing team to make a promo for their tech. So what's the tech? Well basically you have precision steering. Okay so what if we had Van Damme split between two trucks and Enya plays in the background? How in the mother of feck could you come up with such a thing?

[@t0tobi]

drugs, plenty.

[@khllsadat]

Think big

[@hewi5659]

drugs

[@christianvillanueva4902]

meth haha

[@helloeveryone0123]

i would say only people with good foresight sees that this is a good idea. most people including me dont

[@ideamaker]

Oh my God I honestly thought that this was all done with CGI... John Claude Van Damme has my complete and utter respect!

[@MarwanMahdy]

they didn't need to say "don't try this" because nobody would ever try a Van Damme split

[@radoarbeiter1921]

Never seen this commercial before. Unbelievable. That's a piece of art. It's real.

[@kapiyacharlesmukupa9270]

This guy is a legend, i grow up watching his movies

[@lmichaud8586]

Can a solid fan of Van Damme tell me the name of the movie where he's stuck on a high tech Island that seems impossible to escape? It's like the owners of a real version of this island made this movie totally disappear from the map. It's not listed anywhere. Not for sale on Ebay. Not on Wikipedia. I checked everywhere. There's something wrong here, cause it's one of his best movies. Please help.

[@iaincowell9747]

@@lmichaud8586 Welcome to the Jungle

[@lmichaud8586]

@@iaincowell9747 Thanks, but that's not it. I'm talking about a 1990's movie that's a bit like Fortress (with Christopher Lambert), and a bit like "Welcome to Gattaca". He's on an island where they kidnap people to make them work on some underground projects, and he wants to escape from there. At the end he cut his fingerprint to stick it on the machine that scan thumbs every 15 minutes.

[@Dalmatinac3]

Legends are people who passed away lol. He is a living legend.

[@AD-cy7wx]

L Michaud I remember that movie! He trained to hold his breath in a bathtub! Damn what was the name of that?!?

[@WilliamHendershott]

There is no way to fully comprehend the totality of elements that had to all synchronize perfectly to accomplish this. The drivers are driving backwards with trailers and Van Damme's brain has to process balance while moving backwards. This is fricking one of the most incredible things ever accomplished.

[@techwiz81]

It’s bananas that he just showed up with no clue what they wanted him to do, what a legend

[@JordanSullivanadventures]

Enya is the perfect choice for Jean-Claude.

[@darkknight17]

Jordan Sullivan what is the name of the song please? Thank you.

[@adilbourass3883]

U r beautiful but enya keep the majestic of the beauty...

[@hellothere3690]

Hey, tell us if you're an angel and then erase the comment it's ok... Hahahah 😂😱😁

[@desdichado7318]

Ваня это пиздец

[@cloyster1254]

I guess you could also say that i am a perfect choice for you too. 😎

[@bastiaan0741]

No Jean-Claudes were hurt during the making of this commercial.

[@greg4272]

Actually this is the 5th Jean Claud clone that is still alive today, all the rest are under the tyres of those trucks :D

[@itsFiggers]

No, no Volvo's were hurt during the making of this commercial.

[@blakris9382]

wait how many JC van damme are there???

[@cankutbayhan5952]

@@blakris9382 one for each pair of Volvo, obviously XD

[@b00gyman1]

Calling all Jen michael vincents

[@behappy2964]

Awesome. The skill of Van Damme, the drivers and the people in the trucks, the trucks, the people that made it all happen, are just brilliant and what a perfect sunrise, great song too, all in all a perfect advert + the best!

[@BadGuyCoffee]

This is the most incredible thing I’ve seen on KZbin.

[@circleoflight1364]

No matter how old this gets, it never gets old. So very impressive.

[@kidbudi23]

I never realize that they were going backwards

[@morganum87az]

The clip is reversed

[@ps1laracroft989]

@@morganum87az its not reversed. the reason its not going forward is to avoid accident. If they drive forward and he fell the truck will crushed him.

[@thewhite8uard]

@@ps1laracroft989 You do really believe he was on the trucks? If he fell he will likely die anyway. It's asphalt concrete, and he has no headgear.

[@Daniel.RF.Davidson]

@@vjreimedia LOL, What kind of video editor are ya, buddy? You couldn`t be more wrong. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2eYlahvpcd0gLM

[@thewhite8uard]

@@user-ri7qd1yb4b They are moving. There is reason to wear headgear for bikers and cyclists even though their seat is much lower than 1.5 meters. You must be very smart if you do not understand that. By the way his legs are disabled in this position. Falling down forward or backward on head can easily kill him even if trucks were static.

[@chimera5317]

бесконечное уважение тем, кто придумал такой трюк и тому, кто его исполнил

[@MuzykaStrannika_StihiRomantika]

*А я раньше думал, что машины двигались вперёд, но видео сделали назад, чтобы выглядело эффектнее. А теперь я только узнал, что на самом деле машины ехали назад, такое мастерство водителей и высокая технология грузовиков. Это потрясающе!* *I used to think that the cars were moving forward, but the video was made back to look more effective. And now I just learned that in fact the cars were going backwards, such skill of drivers and high technology of trucks. This is amazing!*

[@mmmc5122]

The commercial just reached 100 million views on June 30th 2020. Thank you Volvo for this classic and thank you channel for the behind the scenes! 👍👍👍

[@disappointedfather9394]

There is another aspect to the test that this video doesn't tell you about and it's actually very important. They attached three additional engines per truck in a mechanism that extended out into their back compartments to conceal them. This was so that the trucks could actually move while bearing the weight of Van Damme's massive balls. The speed of both trucks during the split was actually the fastest they could go with him on it, they had the pedal to the floor.

[@frankfarrell3262]

Ive watched this loads of times but will never forget the moment when I first realised the trucks were travelling in reverse. This is my go to video!

[@TheNitroG1]

forward would have actually been way more problematic I think. Given the way that a semi turns this would be the slowest they could separate them if he is standing at the front, plenty of time to correct. I'm kinda wondering how they undid it. did they just start driving back together and hope he wasn't hyper extended on any of his joints or did they just slowly come to a stop and help him down?

[@antoniosabattini775]

It's just incredible... and will never get old. Every time I watch this I'm in absolute awe 😳

[@ballad2212]

I loved this commercial and NEVER noticed the trucks were in reverse!

[@utarian7]

4:58 I bet his heart beat fast when his right foot slipped

[@adamtruelove9684]

You have a good eye!

[@WanderingBrushArt]

Ive watched this 30 times never saw that good eye

[@HrWisch]

Possible, but he never was in any danger. He was secured by a carrying system mounted on top of the trucks which was removed in post edit.

[@chriscooke9621]

@@whocaresguy who cares

[@BakrAli10]

@@HrWisch source?

[@AnthonyChew]

"... if they keep on opening up ..." yeah Jean we feel you.

[@AcidGlow]

Awesome 🙂

[@yamatotakeru9078]

True

[@Iamtooinsignificanttobelongtoa]

I love Jean-Claude, not for his flexibility only but also for his always smiling face...a responsible face. With love to Jeane-Claude Sir!

[@eldhosejosethenali3023]

Love u dear Van 💕

[@CurmudgeonExtraordinaire]

@@eldhosejosethenali3023 -- The only way most guys would be able to do that sort of split would be if our feet were attached to the trucks so that they could not be removed and even then, it would involve extreme amounts of pain as our joints were basically ripped apart... Kind of like being drawn and quartered, minus the drawn part...

[@CurmudgeonExtraordinaire]

@xXXx -- Like I said, *most* guys... He is not within the range of "most"...

[@GOLVEL]

The making was even more amazing and convincing (to buy a Volvo) than the actual test.

[@nouamanela2096]

Best car commercial in the history ... big respect for JCVD ... legendary stunt ... perfect 👍❤

[@marcinj79]

Legend! After 7 years it still makes a huge impression

[@1983banana1983]

Say what you want about the man but that indeed is some epic split!

[@nkosilathimoyo6970]

1983banana1983 the man is amazing

[@MustangCollectibles]

Excellent performance! What a commercial: JCVD is a LEGEND!

[@lakhme1]

Few things never fade away, and this one still gives goosebumps when we see it.

[@dimitrisalbanis]

I like the part when Jean Claude says to the other guy ,. so I will see you later if I am not dead. LOL 3:29

[@Kid98.]

The song was also perfectly chose Long live Van Damme

[@iamthetinkerman]

Enya!

[@zubairahmed2106]

The most beautiful commercial I have ever seen best of the best....

[@fearlessphoenix1011]

Whenever I watch this commercial, I feel peace and contentment plus Enya's "only time" song and Van Damme's epic Split , it's majestic! No a lot of props and etc . Very precise and the best commercial ever made!

[@scenesofalife]

"Making of" and then not showing how he's climbing up and down the mirrors - disappointing.

[@monroemann]

Yes I agree. We didn’t see any practice runs. The cameras. Etc. Better title: “Van Damn Deciding To Take The Gig”

[@Zubeqfly]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2eYlahvpcd0gLM they make own test

[@Jollygoodfellow77]

It's amazing he did the perfect split at this age

[@earlsinclair8988]

He is in his 60s, fuck :(

[@KryptKicker5]

This is such an amazing advertisement that, almost a decade later, I seek out the ad on purpose to watch again AND watch how it was made. Impressive. All the way around.

[@unitybr3222]

The music is beautiful, but I can't hear it without seeing Van Damme. Not even Guile's epic music is right here. Perfect this song with this advertisement.

[@eduardosantanagomes3260]

Van Damme is a true legend! My childhood idol!

[@MrMordart]

It's actually an ad for jeans...

[@artilleryfire6576]

source?

[@relish1192]

@@artilleryfire6576 they didnt rip at the crotch

[@tijan8948]

its an ad for Nike athliesure 😂

[@skinniestpuma]

that's why they hired Jean-Claude for this

[@dhavalbaga6913]

Great, Van Damme sir, When I was in 8th standard I watched your movie during External Exam without taking permission from my Father and I was been caught by my Father. From that day I am your avid fan from India, Gujarat State. Dhaval

[@momomomo-sb6dr]

The most epic of the splits

[@carmenroxanabarsan6240]

Never seen anything like that...What an amazing guy!!

[@gorgono1]

Me: uses Addblocker Also me: willingly watches an AD with Universal Soldier over 10 times ...

[@adrieldiaz6135]

idem

[@lfc011]

amen

[@tom111_14]

Amazing force of character !! Well done Mr Van Damme

[@someoneontheinternet3090]

"The making of..." He just does it.

[@icaropinto1334]

xD

[@MonPrinCeCyCLoPe]

Having this stunt made in reverse makes it even more EPIC!!!!

[@thelonelyghosts9004]

The song is by Enya for those asking Enya - “Only Time” Taken from her 2000 album, “a day without rain” Lyrics by Roma Ryan Produced by Nicky Ryan Written by Enya All instruments and voices by Enya Notable facts about Enya: * 7th best selling female artist in history * Over 80 million albums sold * 4 Grammy’s * Oscar nomination for her 2001 song, “May It Be” from “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” * LIVES IN A FREAKIN CASTLE IN IRELAND

[@frodobaggins9474]

thanks

[@TeamProfitsEnEspanol]

2:58 the way he removes his glasses is epic, i dont know why..

[@h.elmahgob8557]

Lool, i thought the same, i actually repeated it more than once

[@TeamProfitsEnEspanol]

@@h.elmahgob8557 lol me too

[@lh7801]

@FOOQ GAMING always one douchebag ready to chime in and let everyone know they are above it all. Congrats. You are that douchebag

[@mrblonde609]

The way he does it reminds me of The Rock Dwayne Johnson. Very similiar vibe and very cool.

[@Biggie2829]

@FOOQ GAMING douche bag

[@ibnbhai]

Volvo makes the best adverts these days, like honestly, I feel relaxed and ready to go to sleep with them 👌

[@roysiripaul5835]

Something real that looks unreal, God bless van Damme 🙏❤️👍👊👊

[@hdhd8602]

This was absolutely amazing !!!!! JCVD is the greatest ever!!!!!

[@kentkatchem]

I remember watching this all those yrs. ago.. I still love it today! I've always loved Jean Claude too... one of my favorites growing up. :-)

[@thelegend5352]

Bravo to the drivers unsung heros on this epic split ... Who all agree

[@lucal7756]

For those who did not understand: the trucks moved backwards to be sure not to crush JC under tyres in case he could fall

[@niemoikein4330]

No. They drove backwards to show the steering capability of Volvo trucks. Van Damme was secured by a rope attached to a crane in case he’d fall.

[@DEuS-DEX]

This is so epic.. Congrat.. JCVD.

[@whumanati3927]

JCVD IS A LEGEND! 🙈👍

[@Twerkulies]

The fact that he Jackie Chan'd it with 0 safety gear is amazing.

[@elizabethbwalya438]

I want to say thank you to both truck drivers only God knows how they managed moving at the same speed limit.thank you for taking care of van Damme 🙏 this was not easy

[@jamesrollison1599]

"You need me to do what?? Ok let me get my fingerless gloves" "But Jean" "I NEED MY GLOVES"

[@VelhaGuardaTricolor]

Much love from Brazil Mr.Van Damme.

[@KingTrump2024]

This was an amazing commercial, really shows off what Van Damme is known for !!!

[@dragonortiz8741]

"We have two very skilled drivers, performing this stunt, so I have full confidence in their abilities". When you are the best, you know you count in the best people performance.

[@theflyingrocker]

It's like a movie! Don't think too much, just enjoy! Amazing Van Damme Scene!

[@karensanderson4838]

I love this video. Whenever I feel my BP going up, I watch this.

[@41BeachComber]

Still very cool to watch yrs later. I still remember the first time I seen it and still talk about this add today.

[@MrBendybruce]

Straddle Splits has always been my favorite stretch, as a lifelong flexibility practitioner and fan, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt, that to do what he did, even assuming there was a safety wire, would have taken tremendous control and courage. Staying balanced in the straddle split IS NOT EASY.

[@stephanaeon]

I am pretty flexible, I have hyperactive joints and feel like I have a hard time getting a good stretch because even fully extended into them I don't feel much stretch at all. But behind my knees always prevents a proper split for me. I'd greatly appreciate any advice

[@stephanaeon]

I wrote a comment to you but it's not showing up, just in case I'm leaving one more. Whenever I stretch, because I have hyperactive joints, I never feel much of an actual stretch when I'm in the full position. My one issue is that any time I attempt the stretches to learn how to split, behind my knees is always what seems to ruin it for me. I just can't keep my leg straight in that position. I would so greatly appreciate any advice you may have if you have the time. I have always wanted to be able to split, I also don't have a preference for which kind of split I work towards. I just seem to hit a wall when it comes to the knee area and generalized videos and advice I find online haven't been much help

[@MrBendybruce]

@@stephanaeon Hi. I apologize that I rarely check my messages on this account anymore. That said I think it would be hard for me to offer effective advice over a yt comments section. There are a few things I can say though which might be of some help. First of all the straddle split like what JCVD Is doing is fundamentally different from a front split. The impact each split would have on your knees would be very different. Is it actual pain you feel in the back of your knee when you try to do either of these splits? I'm also not sure what you mean by hyperactive. I've heard of people who have hyperextension in their joints so I'm not sure if that's what you actually mean. For example Daniel Browning Smith a famous contortionist had hyper extension in his joints allowing him to do crazy things. Note that when training the straddle split you can do it from a sitting position where you slowly widen your legs out to the side or you can do it from a standing position we use slowly lower your groin towards the ground. The latter version tends to be more physically demanding but we'll also develop strength. However if you overdo it you will fatigue your muscles and possibly injure yourself. The best approach is to use both methods depending on how your body feels. Eventually you want to be able to do it while feeling quite relaxed but it takes a very long time especially if you are an adult. I really don't know what to say other than you have to be incredibly determined to achieve the goal. Often you will feel like you are making no progress or even going backwards you absolutely have to fight through that or you will never get there. Good luck.

[@joreellex]

I bet Steven Seagal has nightmares with this video “ saying how in the world this guy can do that? “ hahahaaha

[@rudyponzio6466]

Ha. I think its funny the propensity to see one as opposite the other. But for me. Steven is the most focused and attuned of any masters of the arts I’ve witnessed. You cant touch that. I wouldn’t bet against him as sure as The sun comes up.

[@davided.2204]

An epic display of precision and skill - superb job!

[@DaveDexterMusic]

Experts in one field respecting the experts in another. It just makes me happy.

[@julianmateos9905]

It was filmed in Ciudad Real (Spain) and the swedish engineer Jan Inge Svensson says to Van Damme "I heard you went to a Flamenco bar the other day, was it good?" And Van Damme says "Amazing". Svensson says "I would like to go" and Van Damme says in such a funny way "When we'll be finishing the shooting if I am not dead ..." What a great guy!!!