Jérôme Le Banner
Jérôme Le Banner was born in the French city of Le Havre, in the "région" of Normandy and began training in judo at the age of five. When he was fourteen, Bruce Lee's "Fist of Fury" influenced him so much that he became interested in striking instead and started trying to incorporate the techniques of Jeet Kune Do he had seen in the film. At sixteen however he started practicing kyokushin, while Jeet Kune Do gave him the southpaw stance which he has maintained throughout his career, even though he is right-handed. He eventually took up Muay Thai at the age of 18. Le Banner holds a black belt in the Kyokushin Kaikan karate and in judo.