Enjoyed reading about Gene Lebell? Hey Gene which way to the Beach? "Judo" Gene LeBell the "Godfather of Grappling" was both a renowned ex-world champion in both wrestling/judo, and one of Hollywood's busiest stuntmen. LeBell's longtime friend Bas Rutten first revealed the news on Facebook. Whats different about the Sixers this year? He is currently the head grappling coach at Jaco Hybrid Training Center.He is the former head grappling coach at both . Gene LeBell was a man who lived a full and adventurous life. McCarthy, veteran actress Karen Black and legendary wrestling and martial arts teacher famous for Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. The latter then accepted, but only if LeBell could drop 100 pounds to reach his weight, otherwise he would have to face Royce's brothers, similarly 20 years younger than LeBell though still lighter than him. she was the only major female fight promoter in the United States, who was said to be terrorizing the stuntman for a particular scene, background in the Japanese martial art of aikido. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. After earning these titles, LeBell made the transition to professional wrestling because of the promise of better earnings in the sport. In December 1939, his parents went to Chinatown, San Francisco in California for an international opera tour. If you want to do a whizzer throw in wrestling, its the same as an uchimata [inner thigh throw] in judo. In 1954, at the age of 20, Gene won the National Heavyweight Judo Championshi and the USA Overall Judo championship title. Chuck & Charlotte Waters, Special man and amazing human being, so deserving of this recognition. Love ya, Buddy Joe Hooker, My dear friend Gene. However, Gene LeBell was a 10th degree judo black belt and one of the toughest men on the planet, so the director knew this wouldn't happen to him. LeBell was also hired for stunt work with Lee on The Green Hornet.. Lance Gilbert, Gene , you are surely deserving of this achievement even though your humility wont allow you to agree with us. Other recordings discovered had ties to the presidential campaign of Richard Nixon. [8], In 1963, LeBell became involved with a challenge by boxer and writer Jim Beck to the practitioners of Japanese martial arts. Its great having such a role model to look up to. Chris Pellitteri, Mr. Gene LeBell ; Thank you for your kindness and wisdom over the years. Don't miss a beat. [2] He was born in Los Angeles. Erik Stabenau, Congratulations Gene. [28], LeBell was friends with world champion judoka AnnMaria De Mars, and had known her daughter, Olympic judoka, mixed martial artist and professional wrestler Ronda Rousey since her birth. Eager to claim the $1,000 purseId fight my grandmother for $1,000, but shed have beaten me, LeBell saidthe judoka found himself facing not Beck but Savage, who not only was an accomplished professional boxer but a man with a solid knowledge of wrestling fundamentals. [7][9] The unusual stipulations convinced LeBell the Savage camp, far from being ignorant about martial arts, had trained Savage in judo in order to defend against LeBell's throws. It is with a heavy heart that we recognize our past member and friend, Mr. Gene LeBell, has passed on. Freddy Bouceigues, No one deserves this more then you uncle Gene. G-E-N-E Capital-L-E-Capital-B-E-L-L. . LeBell was 89 years old. "LeBell parlayed his pain-inducing skills into careers in martial arts, professional wrestling and Hollywood stunt work, making him the ultimate a**-kicking Renaissance man. [12] Finally, he performed a left harai goshi in the fourth round and followed by locking a rear naked choke. Congratulations very well deserved! With respect, Missy OMalley-Reynolds, Uncle Gene, Thanks for never burning our house down. This 1982 homevideo production, introduced by Chuck Norris and narrated by John Saxon, featured LeBell as a car thief and mugger who (in the prologue) accosts Mitsuru Yamashita and Budojujitsu creator Al Thomasmuch to LeBell's regret. Gene LeBell is a legend in the world of MMA and Martial Arts. His very first match was against John Osako, one of the highest ranked judokas at the national level. The boxer's side demanded a stipulation in which the smaller and older Savage (Savage was 39 while LeBell was 31 at the date of the fight) could use any type of punch, while the judoka could not kick, in the apparent belief LeBell was a karateka. This match could be argued to be the first televised MMA match in history. Sammy Horowitz, Congratulations Gene, its about time you were acknowledged for your amazing contribution to the stunt world. Although LeBell would remain undefeated in the sport for eight years, even traveling to Japan in 1955 to further his judo skillsand, following a laundry mishap, adopt the pink gi that became a signature piece of his in-ring lookhis interests were too varied to allow him to focus exclusively on one sport. You used to practice on your son David and I used to say to him I want to try that too, to be choked out by your dad. Sat 9th Apr 2022 19.30 BST. Known by many as "the Godfather of Grappling", LeBell helped make the grappling arts like Judo, Wrestling, and Jiu Jitsu popular in professional fighting circles. After spending time training Judo overseas in Japan at the Kodokan, in 1954 the 22 year old Gene Lebell would capture both the heavyweight and the overall Judo Championships. We are incredibly sad to report that our hero, dear friend and Stunts Unlimited brother passed away yesterday, August 9th, 2022 at the age of 89. Gary Davis, So awesome!!! Hans Gutknecht has been a photojournalist at the Los Angeles Daily News since 1992. Gene LeBell Record, Net Worth, Weight, Age & More. It was a fascinating collection of people mourning too, from the world of pro wrestling, mixed martial arts, acting, and beyond. It was agreed that the match would last five 3 three minute rounds. Youve not only accomplished a great name in our industry but many,many brothers and sister stunt people that admire and love you very much. LeBell has made himself the nicknames "Judo" Gene LeBell, "The Godfather of Grappling" and also "The Toughest Man Alive" for his . According to a 2014 interview in Black Belt, LeBell had no idea the fight would be as significant as later developments in the sport of MMA have made it. LeBell recalled in his 2005 autobiography, The Godfather of Grappling meeting Lee on the set of The Green Hornet TV series. Bob Debbie Hennessey, Congrats Gene. Please enter a valid email and try again. Mary Karcz, Hi Gene, Id just like to Congratulate you on your receiving the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award. Black Belt EXCLUSIVE. "[22] After being asked whether he was not going to directly confirm it, LeBell said: "Well, if thirty people are watching, let them talk about it. While men like Wagner and later Freddie Blassie and Dick the Destroyer Beyer would headline Eatons wrestling cards, the young LeBellbereft of a father figurestarted at the very bottom, learning the ropes in the hardest away imaginable, twisted into pretzels by grapplers like the aging Evan Strangler Lewis, from whom LeBell asked to learn the Stranglers signature headlock when LeBell was the tender age of 7. Neil Melanson is an American submission grappling coach. The promoters were looking for karate and judo bumsvery distinct striking and grappling specialties, though LeBell knew the basics of karateto fight a boxer, whom LeBell assumed would be Jim Beck, a highly regarded amateur who had called out the practitioners of those sports. You can follow him on Twitter (@MoustacheClubUS) and read more of his work at www.oliverbateman.com. Congratulations! Weve worked together for over (50) years and its been (50) years of pure delight. On August 7, 2004, the World Martial Arts Masters Association promoted him to 10th degree. A student of catch wrestling titans Lou Thesz, Karl Gotch, and Ed "Strangler" Lewis, LeBell's notable students include Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Ronda Rousey. LeBell served as the referee for the exhibition match between world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki on June 26, 1976, at . Jimmy Halty, Congratulations Gene. He began training catch wrestling at age 7 with Ed "The Strangler" Lewis. If you saw Quentin Tarantino's . Mal, Jo, and Ben get together to talk about where the Mandalorian people are, what adventure awaits Din and Grogu, and much more. There is no one alive on this planet that deserves this Life Time Achievement Award more than you. Bruce Lee's father Lee Hoi-chuen was a famous Cantonese opera singer based in Hong Kong. August 10, 2022 1:24pm. It was LeBells first movieland lesson: Always let the star win. (Gene LeBell Biography), Born in Los Angeles in 1932, LeBell was shipped off to a military school at age 6 by his full-time working mom after his father died in a surfing accident. Will Bowman, Well deserved! The loss by the hometown boxer nearly caused a riot to breakout and despite the promotions attempt to calm the violence, Gene LeBell was nearly stabbed on the way out of the venue. He won the Amateur Athletic Union National Judo Championships in 1954 and 1955 when he was 22, according to Black Belt Magazine. Lewis, Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another: What! if thirty people are watching, let them talk about it. Still, he continued to get regular stunt work on TV. Congrats my friend and God Bless. So they said I could make good money in professional wrestling, which I did. He is highly respected by many martial artists all over the world, and has . His notable students include Rousey, WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper, and Chuck Norris, among others. All my love and respect Matt Taylor, Aloha Uncle Gene, Mahalo for sharing your secret Hawaiian Hug mahalo for all your knowledge & advice that youve given. David Burton, Congrats Gene LeBell great job well done Grover Gay, Congrats Gene LeBell! Tim Gilbert, This tribute is well deserved. Well deserved !!! In 2000, the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) promoted him to 9th Dan in jujitsu and taihojutsu. He taught me how to fight, taught me how to ride. !Thanks for the memories!! So to be a martial artist of his degree in the art of Judo is incredible; to be a pro wrestler of that level, incredible; but then to go into stunts and the motorcycle riding and the acting and everything else. You always tried to get me to go dirt biking with you but I never gave in. Afterwards, attracted by better potential earnings and the family's legacy in the business, LeBell transitioned to professional wrestling. (James C. Udel, Variety, 2018), The remarkable Judo Gene LeBell was still teaching grappling and doing stunts well into his 80s. Freddie Blassie, who starred for Aileen Eaton and Mike LeBell for decades, wrote in his autobiography Legends of Wrestling: Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks that LeBells believability in the ring wasnt what mattered to Mike and Aileenit was his credibility: When the family needed an enforcer to step into the ring with a wrestler who didnt want to go along with the program, all they had to do was open Genes bedroom door and tell him to get into his wrestling gear.. In June of 1976, LeBell served as the referee during the infamous boxing versus wrestling match between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki in Japan. There has also been rumors that the unconscious Seagal may have soiled himself. He was born there on November 27, 1940, making him a dual Hong Kong and United States citizen by birth. We are all so proud of you, youre a legend. [9], Encouraged by Ed Parker,[8] LeBell accepted the challenge and travelled to Salt Lake City to meet Beck. Gene LeBell, a renowned stuntman who trained Bruce Lee and inspired the likes of Quentin Tarantino, died in his sleep Tuesday morning at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Long overdue! They shared their stories about the Toughest Man Alive and Godfather of Grapplings warmth and generosity. An additional stipulation prevented LeBell from attempting tackles or takedowns under the waist. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. A half-century ago, Pink Floyd unleashed a classic that still lingers on the Billboard charts and in college dorms to this day. Heavyweight and Overall Judo Championships in 1954, and again in 1955 - long before Judo became an Olympic sport and was broadly appreciated in the western world. Bruce and I had a bond with the martial arts, and we would get together frequently. For similar uses, see, MMA History Gene Lebell VS Milo Savage, 1963, The Godfather of Grappling (authorised biography of LeBell) by "Judo" Gene LeBell, Bob Calhoun, George Foon, and Noelle Kim. Sometimes Steven has a tendency to cheese off the wrong people, and you can get hurt doing that. LeBell helped Seagal up. Within seconds, Savage fell unconscious and LeBell was declared the winner. LeBell would win the match osaekomi where the practitioner pins the opponent for a specified amount of time earning the victory. In the martial arts, he captured the National A.A.U. Plus, Nadine Smith on the Agendas Behind Wrestling Documentaries. For LeBell, one martial art naturally flowed into another; they were already mixing together in his curious mind. After an illustrious judo career, Gene tried his hand at professional wrestling, and actually won the heavyweight title in Amarillo, Texas. Steve Boyum, Absolutely couldnt go to a better candidate. . In one scene, Brad Pitt plays a stuntman (Cliff Booth) and beats up Bruce Lee on the set of The Green Hornet in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. LeBell earned the upset win via an osaekomi. LeBell has also worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows and has authored 12 books. Oops. As described in Jonathan Snowdens Shooters, the match was a gripping affair, with the gripping part complicated by the fact that instead of wearing a loose judo gi, as he had promised, Savage instead showed up in a tighter-fitting karate gi intended to make it difficult for LeBell to grab and hold him (below-the-waist takedowns of the sort that LeBell believed to be most effective against boxers were barred). Im proud to be a friend of yours for over 50 years. Sugar Ray Robinson. I was driving a weenie mobile and Gene was driving a truck and they wanted a near miss, so we did the take and they said we werent close enough we showed em the paint scraped off the sides of the cars and they said, Okay, I guess youre right. I get his patches every year, got em all right here. Ivan "Judo" Gene LeBell (October 9, 1932 - August 9, 2022) was an American martial artist, stunt performer, actor, and professional wrestler. LeBell was 89 years old. While working with rising martial arts star Bruce Lee on the set of The Green Hornet, LeBell was instructed by the stunt coordinator to subdue the actorwho was said to be terrorizing the stuntman for a particular sceneand did so by quickly grabbing Lee in a firemans carry and running around the set with him. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Famous wrestler, Martial artist Ivan Gene LeBell better known as Gene LeBell, passes away at 89. Brandon Recor, Congratulations!!! A brief google of you name brings up pages and pages of awesome stories about what youve really accomplished in so many fields. I was told that all the judo and karate people were not making any money at that time; they were starving, LeBell recalled in that interview. . In June 1976, LeBell refereed the infamous boxing-versus-wrestling contest between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki in Tokyo, Japan. [18], LeBell has worked on over 1,000 films, TV shows and commercials as a stuntman or as an actor (including multiple appearances as himself). Hardcover - January 1, 2004. Two hundred of his friends, students, and family gathered at Hayastan MMA Academy in North. [2] Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic both had 40-point games after the Sixers loss against the Mavs. The award couldnt be given to a better or greater person, that trained many motion pictures stuntmen in and out of the motion picture Industry. Judo Gene LeBell the Godfather of Grappling was both a renowned ex-world champion in both wrestling/judo, and one of Hollywoods busiest stuntmen. Bruce Lee. (Gene LeBell Biography), LeBell transitioned from amateur to AAU national judo champ in 1954 and catapulted to national attention but as a pro wrestler, playing Hank the Hangman; he made a living by losing every match. He judged UFC 74 (Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga) plus he had a highly popular website visited by martial arts and film fans all over the globe. Sandra Brumfield Avo, Gene is as it has been said amongst the fight world..is the Toughest Man. August 10, 2022 11:30 am ET. Many modern-day MMA fans recognize LeBell as the one who is present in many of Rousey's early games, coaching her on. Professional wrestler Bas Rutten announced LeBell's death via Facebook, writing, "You will be greatly missed Gene, [13] He also continued to work in professional wrestling intermittently, wrestling his final match on August 29, 1981, against Peter Maivia for NWA Hollywood Wrestling. Congratulations, Connie P Conrad Palmisano, Congratulations Uncle Gene for receiving the lifetime award. LeBell recalled throwing Lee over his shoulder and running around set as Lee screamed, Put me down or Ill kill you. The pair became friends, and LeBell taught Lee judo and wrestling moves, many of which Lee used in his movies, The Way of The Dragon and Enter the Dragon., He was the best martial artist of his time, LeBell recalled in Black Belt Magazine. So may you rest in power, Gene.. wrote the Stuntmans Association of Motion Pictures in a statement to Variety, whose portrayal of an overconfident Lee by actor Mike Moh in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood spurred backlash. The Hollywood Reporter: Gene LeBell, Famed Stuntman and Godfather of Grappling, Dies at 89, Deadline: Gene LeBell Dies: Stuntman, Actor And Wrestling Legend Who Fought Bruce Lee & Chuck Norris Onscreen Was 89, MMA Fighting: Toughest man I know: Pros react to pioneer Judo Gene LeBells death, The Huffington Post: Gene LeBell, Famed Stuntman, Martial Artist And Bruce Lees Teacher Dies At 89. LeBell, preferring to let others do the talking for him, told MMA journalist Ariel Helwani in 2012 that if thirty people are watching, let them talk about it.. Gene LeBell, who died on August 9 at age 89, led a life so expansive that any mere retelling of it would come across like a tall tale, the stuff of Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyanif all of it werent true. Could James Harden Potentially Return to Houston After the Season? Some of his most famous students were, Ronda Rousey, Sugar Ray Robinson,. Beck engaged in a great deal of pre-fight trash talk, but it was clear that he had very little knowledge of Japanese martial arts even going as far as confusing traditional judo for karate. Beck engaged in abundant trash-talk, but revealed a very limited knowledge of martial arts, seemingly mistaking judo for karate. LeBell judged fights for several decades, but retired from it after Golden Boy Promotions: Liddell vs. Ortiz 3 on November 24, 2018. A tribute to the late martial artist, stuntman, actor and pro wrestler Gene LeBell. Some have pointed out that LeBell making easy work of Lee on set may have inspired the scene in Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in which Brad Pitt, playing veteran stuntman Cliff Booth, has his way with Bruce Lee (played by actor and martial artist Mike Moh) in an on-set sparring match. Gene LeBell, a renowned stuntman who trained Bruce Lee and inspired the likes of Quentin Tarantino, died in his sleep Tuesday morning at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, according to The Hollywood Reporter. [7] According to fellow BJJ artist Royce Gracie, LeBell was invited to compete in Ultimate Fighting Championship in early 1995, after Gracie stopped participating in its tournaments. The Ploys and Tactics Behind Oscar Campaigning, A Secret Laundromat Meetup, New Jersey Episode 4, and Potomac Reunion Part 2. However, Tarantino disputes this claim. Despite this, a man tried to stab LeBell on the way out and the latter had to be protected by the judokas and professional wrestlers who accompanied him. The judoka and his team showed their sportsmanship by helping to revive Savage using kappo, as neither the referee nor the ring doctor knew how to resuscitate him. I have always been inspired by this quality in you Uncle Gene and I cherish the memories of the many great experiences we have had together. [25], LeBell has earned himself the nicknames "Judo" Gene LeBell, "the Godfather of Grappling" and also "the toughest man alive" for his participation in combat sports. Love ya !!! "My name is Gene LeBell. Gene's funeral will be private for immediate family only. However, no context is provided for the encounterup until the fight, Booths martial arts credentials, unlike LeBells, are completely unknown, and he defeats Lee on the feet rather than with wrestling techniques. This scene is loosely based on world class Judoka Gene LeBell . Gene was an actor and stuntman in Hollywood productions for over fifty years with more than 150 acting credits and 250 stunt credits. After winning amateur national competitions in judo, LeBell decided to make the switch to pro wrestling as it offered more lucrative earnings. I love ya man. A lot of fighters are broke. In addition to Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris, LeBell also tutored the likes of Roddy Piper (who claimed in his autobiography to have received a black belt in judo from LeBell, though this is likely as spurious as the impossible-to-verify Golden Gloves championship he was sometimes reported as having won), Olympic bronze medalist judoka and future UFC and WWE star Ronda Rousey (who always cited him as an important mentor), American judo champion and instructor Gokor Chivichyan, and Chivichyans Armenian American judo student Karo Parisyan, one of the first notable judo practitioners in the UFC. Our aim is to create a shop for BJJ Students who don't look at Jiu-Jitsu as a sport - but a lifestyle. Thank you, Mr. LeBell! At Hayastan MMA Academy, the focus is to teach our students a variety of Martial Art disciplines - We specialize in Judo, Sambo, Wrestling, Gi and No Gi Grappling, Boxing, Kickboxing and MMA. Love and Respect John C Meier, Gene, I first met you at the Olympic Auditorium many years ago, i cant believe how fast time has past, As a Great stuntman, Actor, Olympian and Teacher being Prolific to this Business you have planted many many seeds in Future Stunt men and stunt women, because of your thoughtful and kind hart this business will be Blessed with talent worthy of calling you Teacher and Friend, Your Long Lost, Brother From Another Mother, and Friend, Love You, Henry Kingi, Uncle GeneI can remember taking your class when I was a young stunt grunt. Michael Hughes, Thank you for being such an influence and inspiration to MANY! Humbled to be 1 of many. Grand Master Leg Locks by Gokor Chivichyan. Well done sir! He eventually adopted the role as "policeman" for the promotion, maintaining law and order, especially during matches involving his brother Mike LeBell. Featuring "Judo" Gene LeBell's champion student "The Armenian Assassin" Gokor Chivichyan and friends." . A celebration of his life will be held on his 90thBirthday October 9th, 2022 at the Hayastan Academy led by his student, Black Belt Hall of Fame Member - Gokor Chivichyan. Without locking the hold, Seagal side stepped and swung his forearm backwards into his crotch. Love you brother congratulations! "Judo" Gene LeBell the "Godfather of Grappling" is both a renowned ex-world champion in both wrestling/judo, and one of Hollywood's busiest stuntmen. [7] LeBell took up catch wrestling under Ed "Strangler" Lewis at age 7, and later moved to train in judo. Seventeen years before the UFC debuted, though, LeBell refereed arguably the most notable mixed martial arts clash of the era, serving as the third man in the ring for the Muhammad AliAntonio Inoki superfight in Tokyo. LeBell was the third man inside the ring of one of the most famous matches in Japanese history and one that had worldwide attention. Cheers! You truly are a one-off, a living legend. You deserve every bit of it! 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Stunts Unlimited Member Gene LeBell was presented with the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, May 13th, 2017 for his outstanding contribution to the world of action feature films. We cant have blood! Gaffer tape stanched the bleeding, and LeBell managed six more takes. There he found quick success. It was the long-running Lassie series that first tested LeBells mettle. #246C,Beverly, MA 01915,United States. Gene LeBell had three children including stuntman son David LeBell and FBI . RIP Gene LeBell - Part II. Congratulations Uncle Gene! And Thank You for all those Decals and Patches you sent Charlotte and I each Christmas. To this day you are still teaching and sharing your wealth of knowledge with the next generation! Each speaker spoke fondly of the larger-than-life LeBell, recounting stories and memories of how he inspired them and the love they felt for him. This set the Japanese crowd livid, as it was considered very insulting, but they somewhat calmed down after LeBell went on to win his division. It goes to a great man of strength, integrity and honor. You don't earn the nickname 'Judo' without knowing a thing or two about combat; just ask Steven Seagal. "The great Gene Lebell, toughest man I know, has passed away and left us at the age of 89," Rutten wrote.

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