Jean-Claude Van Damme visits a Belfast gym to help MMA star Leah McCourt

Northern Ireland MMA star Leah McCourt was put to the test by some Hollywood royalty on Thursday night.

The Bellator fighter met up with film star Jean-Claude Van Damme for an impromptu training session at the Tribe boxing gym in Belfast.

Van Damme was in town to promote his new whiskey brand Old Oak and held a special launch event at Friend at Hand in the Cathedral Quarter on Wednesday.

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During the event, Van Damme spoke with McCourt, whose next fight will be for the Bellator featherweight world title against current champion Cris Cyborg.

The pair agreed to meet at the Tribe boxing gym, owned by Belfast brothers Mark and Ray Ginley.

Mark told Belfast Live: “Jean-Claude was in Belfast for the whiskey launch. Leah was invited and they started talking about her next world title fight against Cris Cyborg.

“Jean-Claude then asked if he could meet her the next day to train together. So last night we all got together at Tribe and spent over two hours learning from him.”

Martial arts expert Van Damme, whose legendary films include Bloodsport and Kickboxer, mastered some of his own stretching techniques before taking Leah for a kicking workout.

“We spent about 45 minutes stretching, which was really interesting. Then the last hour of the session was spent working on my kicking technique, which was very helpful,” Mark added.

“Ray and I grew up watching his films, so meeting him and spending time with him last night was a little surreal. He even invited us to Belgium to train with him.”

Tribe, which has three locations in Ormeau Road, Finaghy and Lisburn, is a gym that helps members of the public get fit and improve their health through boxing and fitness.

He is also becoming something of a celebrity hotspot, having previously helped train film and comedy superstar Kevin Hart and Formula One driver Alex Albon.

Mark said: “I don’t know what it is, but since we opened our gym on Ormeau Road we’ve had quite a few A-listers come through. We trained Kevin Hart while he was filming in Belfast.

“We also had Formula One star Alex Albon training here last month with boxer Michael Conlan. Now Jean-Claude Van Damme has visited the gym, it’s incredible.

“We were delighted to welcome him to Tribe. He really enjoyed his visit and working with Leah.”

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