LeBell would win the match osaekomi where the practitioner pins the opponent for a specified amount of time earning the victory. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), Martial artist Bas Rutten poses for a photo with Midge LeBell, wife of Judo Gene LeBell, during a celebration of his life on what would have been Genes 90th birthday at Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood Sunday, October 9, 2022. 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. Gene LeBell had thousands of students over the years. A long overdue, but well deserved award. Along the way, he trained scores of future greats in a variety of disciplines, from Rowdy Roddy Piper in wrestling to Rowdy Ronda Rousey in judo (she, too, eventually wound up in the wrestling business), and even managed to extricate himself from being convicted in the 1976 murder of a private detective who had been digging up dirt on a host of California notables. Nicknamed "The Godfather of Grappling", he popularized grappling in professional fighting circles, serving as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts. It is alleged that as soon as LeBell placed his arms around Seagal's neck and Seagal said "go" that LeBell choked him unconscious. Seagal has later flatly denied the claim and LeBell has not gone as far to 100% confirm, though his student and long time friend Ronda Rousey has stood up for LeBell's honor in interviews. Something went wrong. Congratulations Gene LeBell! Gene LeBell Did It All Over a legendary career as a judoka, pro wrestler, and Hollywood stuntman, LeBell was a pioneer in mixed martial arts and choreographed violenceand one of the toughest. 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.. However, in his excitement Gene swung the title belt around his head, which accidentally hit one of the wrestling commissioners on the head, causing a nasty gash. His second best fight was probably his back and forth battle with 80's and 90's martial arts action star Steven Seagal. FLASH SALE - Buy 1 video get 40% OFF - COUPON40, Buy 2 videos get 43% OFF - COUPON43, Buy 3 or more videos get 45% OFF - COUPON45. Not long after, he began training judo. Congratulations Gene Eric Norris, Gene LeBell is my hero and always has been. (Gene LeBell Biography). Today we will take a look at just a fraction of it. Bottles, chairs, and other debris were thrown into the ring. One thing I learned was never never mess with Gene LeBell. Beck engaged in abundant trash-talk, but revealed a very limited knowledge of martial arts, seemingly mistaking judo for karate. Jimmy Roberts, Gene youve always told me Im the best but your THE GREATEST Love ya, Manny Perry, I owe everything to Gene. It was LeBells first movieland lesson: Always let the star win. He was known as one the best stuntmen in his early days and his influence in the worlds of mixed martial arts and wrestling still. 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. But whats the legacy of the blockbuster album? Ivan Gene LeBell (October 9, 1932 - August 9, 2022) was an American martial artist, instructor, stunt performer, and professional wrestler. On March 18, 1995, the Cauliflower Alley Club again honored LeBell by presenting him with the "Iron Mike Mazurki" award; presented by one of his teachers, legendary professional wrestling champion Lou Thesz. Present-day UFC fans probably best remember him from his time spent wielding a stopwatch in the corner of his protege, Ronda Rousey, while wrestling fans might know his name from when Daniel Bryan used to call his finisher the LeBell Lock. But despite that, the MMA pioneer isnt a household name, which is a shame, because if youre a fan of combat sports, he absolutely should be. You have definitely earned it for all your contributions to the industry. Gene LeBell had three children including stuntman son David LeBell and FBI agent daughter Monica LeBell Pandis. [2] He was born in Los Angeles. "I learned the [LeBell Lock] from a guy named Neil Melanson," Danielson told the WWE website in 2010. Hollywood stuntman and martial artist Gene LeBell has died. I love you. When he entered the 1954 AAU National Judo championship as a lightly regarded 160-pound heavyweight, he pinned 1952 Pan American Games gold medalist Johnny Osako in his first match, then went on to win both his weight class as well as the overall tournament. Ronda Rousey. Hans Gutknecht has been a photojournalist at the Los Angeles Daily News since 1992. 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. AEW Revolution Preview, and Whats Going on With Brock, Bray, Bobby, and Omos? The simplest version of the tale has Seagal boasting that he couldnt be choked out, and LeBell, then in his 50s and significantly smaller than the 6-foot-4 actor, going behind the star, then taking him to the ground and choking him out. Neil Melanson McCarthy, veteran actress Karen Black and legendary wrestling and martial arts teacher famous for Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. ", "Gene LeBell and Ronda Rousey's golden lineage", "Killer's Impending Parole Scuttled by Extortion Plot", "Los Angeles Stirred by Detective's Mysterious Death", "Judo legend Gene LeBell passes away aged 89 years old", "Gene LeBell, Famed Stuntman and "Godfather of Grappling," Dies at 89", "NWA Hall of Fame Class for 2011 announced", "North American Heavyweight Title (W. Texas)", Seagal vs LeBell resolved Fact, Fiction & Eye-Witness Testimony on the Urban Legend, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gene_LeBell&oldid=1141444745, NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Champions, Articles lacking reliable references from May 2021, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from May 2021, All articles needing additional references, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using embedded infobox templates with the title parameter, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 02:59. Please enter a valid email and try again. Grand Master Leg Locks by Gokor Chivichyan. thank you so much for all the encouragement over all these decades . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett, talks about Judo Gene LeBell during a celebration of LeBells life on what would have been his 90th birthday at Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood Sunday, October 9, 2022. Ivan Gene LeBell (born October 9, 1932) is an American martial artist, instructor, stunt performer, and professional wrestler born in Los Angeles, California. Gene taught my three sons how to take every day life in the training under Gene. Two hundred of his friends, students, and family gathered at Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood to celebrate his storied life and remember how he touched each of them in a way only LeBell could. Karl Gotch. [4] LeBell appeared in three Elvis Presley movies as a minor character who starts a fight with the character played by Presley. He won the Amateur Athletic Union National Judo Championships in 1954 and 1955 when he was 22, according to Black Belt Magazine. LeBell was still teaching grappling and doing stunts in his 70s. [20], LeBell also appeared in "The World of Martial Arts Budojujitsu". According to Lambert, Seagal explained to LeBell that he did not believe his choke hold was effective, and that he could escape from it. "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. Gene LeBell's most famous match was his match with boxer/wrestler Milo Savage. You always tried to get me to go dirt biking with you but I never gave in. "The great Gene Lebell, toughest man I know, has passed away and left us at the age of 89," Rutten wrote. Still, he continued to get regular stunt work on TV. It will be donated to St. Jude Childrens Hospital, Southern California, in honor of LeBell. (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. [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). An incredible life being rightfully recognized. Thank you, Mr. LeBell! Afterwards, attracted by better potential earnings and the family's legacy in the business, LeBell transitioned to professional wrestling. It hurt. While working at the stunt coordinator for Seagal's film Out for Justice, the two of them met to test Seagal's statement. To start academies, and then have a lineage of students that he brought up, not just martial arts but also film., Barnett said of his accomplishments, Its really just incredible to see someone be able to tip the scales of the world with just his own hands like that. The Toughest Man Alive. Gene LeBell began his martial arts training at the age of 13 and went on to become the Godfather of Grappling and is considered by many to be the father of MMA. Extant fight footage shows a stocky LeBell, probably 60 to 70 pounds heavier than he was when he debuted in judo, cautiously circling and then struggling to throw the much smaller man, who exhibited sound wrestling defense. Stuntman Gene LeBell might not have been around since Hollywood's first fist fight, but his skill has transformed the genre. LeBells Rolodex is not just one hall of fame roster, but multiple, as hes played integral roles in the worlds of boxing, judo, wrestling, and Hollywood stunt-work. You deserve every bit of it! Sammy Horowitz, Congratulations Gene, its about time you were acknowledged for your amazing contribution to the stunt world. 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. There is no one alive on this planet that deserves this Life Time Achievement Award more than you. Norman Howell, Congratulations Gene LeBell an incredible Honor an so well deserved. RIP Gene LeBell - Part II. 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. For 89 years, few did that work better than Judo Gene LeBell. ( Aubrey Sitterson, rondarousey.com, 2018). In addition to his judo background, LeBell has an extensive background in submission grappling and catch wrestling, and has trained under Lou Thesz, Karl Gotch and Ed "Strangler" Lewis. Way to go Uncle Gene!!! If I could get my arms around you I would hug you. His mother, Aileen Eaton, promoted fights at the Olympic Auditorium and was the first woman inducted into the International Boxing Hall of . LeBells top student, Gokor Chivichyan, hosted the event at his martial arts academy to celebrate the life of his mentor and close friend. LeBells wrestling fortunes variedhis brother Mike told Sports Illustrated in 1995 that he had fired Gene on several occasions, noting that sometimes even I thought he was crazybut his career continued its upward trajectory as he moved into the Hollywood stunt work that would see him participating in thousands of projects over the years. 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. Gene LeBell, the colorful judo champion, wrestler and stuntman who trained Bruce Lee, fought Elvis Presley and John Wayne in the movies and was an inspiration for Brad Pitt's character in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, has died.He was 89. Influential combat sports icon "Judo" Gene LeBell has died at 89. LeBells career wasnt without controversy of its own, thoughnot long after refereeing the Ali-Inoki fight in 1976, he was arrested for his role in the murder of private investigator Robert Duke Hall, whose residence contained hours of phone recordings connected to powerful local figures and even the 1972 presidential campaign of Richard Nixon. Little Mo and Lou, Uncle Gene has been a trusted mentor, ardent Sensei and dear friend to me and countless other stunt people throughout the years. A pioneer of martial arts, he lived a long and fascinating life. LeBell demonstrated the choke hold by putting it on Seagal. LeBell passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, just two months shy of being a nonagenarian. Allen Lopa, Congrats to a legend!! Gene LeBell began his martial arts training at the age of 13 and went on to become the "Godfather of Grappling" and is considered by many to be the . [14], LeBell has opened two martial art schools in cooperation with others and has touted his 1963 match with Milo Savage as the first televised MMA fight in America.[15][16]. You were a better reference than SAG! [12] Finally, he performed a left harai goshi in the fourth round and followed by locking a rear naked choke. Congrats Rick Avery, Congratulations Uncle Gene! LeBell was selected from over 200 other applicants to referee the bout. Scott Wilder, Thank you Sensei for paving the way for martial artists in this biz! if thirty people are watching, let them talk about it. Chris Pellitteri, Mr. Gene LeBell ; Thank you for your kindness and wisdom over the years. LeBell judged fights for several decades, but retired from it after Golden Boy Promotions: Liddell vs. Ortiz 3 on November 24, 2018. Most of his notoriety came after the release of his biggest film, Enter the Dragon, that same year. Within seconds, Savage fell unconscious and LeBell was declared the winner. Alan Oliney, Hey Gene, Thanks for being a four-star mentor to so many and thanks for being Gene Lebell. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), Former UFC Champion and WWE star Ronda Rousey talks with Midge LeBell wife of Judo Gene LeBell during a celebration of his life on what would have been Genes 90th birthday at Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood Sunday, October 9, 2022. He was known by many as the Godfather of Grappling, and influenced fighters around the world. Jimmy Halty, Congratulations Gene. People gather to celebrate the life of Judo Gene LeBell on what would have been his 90th birthday at Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood Sunday, October 9, 2022. Gene LeBell has three children Monica, Danny, and David. After getting his black belt, he went to Japan to train in judo at the Kodokan. Gene LeBell heard about the proclamation and decided to take Seagal up on the challenge. Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic both had 40-point games after the Sixers loss against the Mavs. Over a legendary career as a judoka, pro wrestler, and Hollywood stuntman, LeBell was a pioneer in mixed martial arts and choreographed violenceand one of the toughest guys in the business. Long overdue! It wasnt exactly an elite-level boxer facing down a grappler, but it did offer a variation on the Ultimate Fighting Championship model that LeBells long-time acquaintances, the Gracie family, would partner with Bob Meyrowitz to launch in 1993right down to the initial audience confusion and cautious feeling-out process between the athletes. In the martial arts, he captured the National A.A.U. In 2004, Gene Lebell was promoted to 10th degree black belt in those arts. I made very good money, and it led me into a career in stunt work.. I had a 2-stroke so i had to unload at an area specifiedthe 4-strokes rode the streets to the mountains and riding area.As i was driving my bike in my pick-up.Gene passed me standing on the seat of his XR doin a wheelieGene is an Amazing man.Open arms.. to a choke-out! So, congratulation Gene LeBell from the Winburn families for receiving the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award. Best to You Gene !! Michael Hughes, Thank you for being such an influence and inspiration to MANY! A professional stuntman and actor, LeBell appeared in over 1,000 films and TV shows, and authored 12 books. He worked in. His notable students include Rousey, WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper, and Chuck Norris, among others. When I first came to town in 1987, I remember trying to get my hands on one those Stunt Rate breakdown cards you used to make. Gregg Smrz, So well deserved! On Sunday, Oct. 9, legendary martial artist and stuntman "Judo" Gene LeBell would have turned 90. #246C,Beverly, MA 01915,United States. 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. LeBell was the third man inside the ring of one of the most famous matches in Japanese history and one that had worldwide attention. 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.. Then consider checking: 100 Cummings Ctr. Well deserved my hat is off to you sir!!! I feel honored to say Ive never been choked out by the legend Gene LaBellI consider you a true friend. Being 63 years old, LeBell declined to compete or to send a representative, instead suggesting a match against Royce's 82-year-old father, the renowned Hlio Gracie. Gene has trained with numerous other world champion martial artists includingChuck Norris,Bill Wallace, andBenny Urquidez. Awesome Steve Picerni. [21], The popularity of this incident led LeBell to be counted in 1992 as a potential additional member of Robert Wall's controversial "Dirty Dozen," a group of martial artists willing to answer to a public challenge made by Seagal. The boxer blocked the move, which aggravated an old shoulder injury of LeBell. 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. Tanner Gill, Congrats Uncle Gene!! . Congratulations Uncle Gene! 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. He was a Nevada and California Athletic Commission judge. 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. To prevent a full-blown riot, hometown hero and rated professional boxer Jay Fullmer (brother of boxers Gene and Don Fullmer) entered the ring to congratulate LeBell. As soon as he landed, LeBell used a foot sweep to sweep Seagal off the floor, with Seagal landing on his back. It always put a smile on my face when you would call the SAMP office. He was acquitted of the murder charge but convicted as an accessory for driving the convicted murderer, pornographer Jack Ginsburgs, to and from the murder scene. Mal, Jo, and Ben get together to talk about where the Mandalorian people are, what adventure awaits Din and Grogu, and much more. 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. American judoka and martial arts instructor (19322022), "The Hangman (wrestler)" redirects here. You don't earn the nickname 'Judo' without knowing a thing or two about combat; just ask Steven Seagal. He was set to compete the following day and being a Saturday evening when he received the now colored uniform, he had to compete in the pink uniform. Aloha, Brian Keaulana, Congratulations Gene! A tribute to the late martial artist, stuntman, actor and pro wrestler Gene LeBell. Many modern-day MMA fans recognize LeBell as the one who is present in many of Rousey's early games, coaching her on. Jim Winburn, Long time coming Papa Gene. Thank you for all you have done for those of us blessed to learn from you. It goes to a great man of strength, integrity and honor. His very first match was against John Osako, one of the highest ranked judokas at the national level. 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. When he arrived, Gene LeBell learned that he would not be fighting Beck, but instead a much more well-known boxer in Milo Savage. 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). Without locking the hold, Seagal side stepped and swung his forearm backwards into his crotch. 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. He sparred with James Cagney while shooting "Blood on the Sun" in 1945, allowing the famous actor to dominate the 20-minute skirmish which . I have grown up idolizing many of the SU members over the yearsGenes massive career and list of credits is insane. LeBell was also hired for stunt work with Lee on The Green Hornet.. AEW, Triple H & WWE acknowledged LeBell's influence. LeBell's conviction for being an accessory was later overturned by the California Courts of Appeal. LeBell lived long enough to learn submission wrestling from the likes of Ed Strangler Lewis, study judo in postwar Japan, win the first notable mixed martial arts match in 1963 and then referee the much-hyped but disappointing 1976 proto-MMA showdown between boxer Muhammad Ali and wrestler Antonio Inoki, trade fighting tips and blows with a young Bruce Lee on the set of The Green Hornet, allegedly choke out martial-arts action star Steven Seagal on the set of Out for Justice in 1991, and even decline an invitation to the early Ultimate Fighting Championship events when he and 82-year-old jujitsu pioneer Hlio Gracie couldnt settle on a fighting weight. Gene LeBell (also called "Judo Gene" and "the Godfather of Grappling") went on to perform stunts in hundreds of movies, train martial artists like Chuck . "My name is Gene LeBell. Gene LeBell Record, Net Worth, Weight, Age & More. Tarantino, whose portrayal of an overconfident Lee by actor Mike Moh in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood spurred backlash drew heavily from LeBell when he crafted Brad Pitts character in the film as stuntman Cliff Booth, as LeBell had trained in Japan and studied judo years before Lee became a master. In 1994, LeBell counted kickboxing champion Benny Urquidez and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners the Machado brothers among his training partners. Sugar Ray Robinson. Heffay Cadiente, Big congrats Uncle Gene! God Bless you Gene and your lovely wife and thanks you for all the things you taught me. He is there to help you any time any where. He is, and always has been, a perfect example of what a professional stuntman should be and continues to teach and hand down his vast knowledge to all young and old who want to learn. Brandon Recor, Congratulations!!! Ivan Gene LeBell was born in Los Angeles on Oct. 9, 1932. [2] He worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows and authored 12 books. Along the way, his list of big-name collaborators, students, and opponents became as packed as his CV; in addition to Lee, . The only thing I have against MMA is they dont have a retirement plan. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), Former UFC Champion and WWE star Ronda Rousey talks about her friend and mentor Judo Gene LeBell during a celebration of his life on what would have been his 90th birthday at Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood Sunday, October 9, 2022. LeBell is back in the limelight on the 50th anniversary of what's considered the first notable mixed martial arts fight in the United States, even though the term wasn't used: His Dec. 2, 1963 . LeBell was 89 years old. He will always be my Stunt Senei. Oops. [6], Ivan Gene LeBell was born in Los Angeles, California. He was 89. 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. 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. They all grew up to be great young men, James is a newspaper writer for various companies, David is a Federal Police Officer and Matthew is an accountant and they all, always talk about the days they train under Gene. Gene LeBell had three children including stuntman son David LeBell and FBI . Gary Davis, So awesome!!! [9], The match took place on December 2, 1963. He was highly respected by many martial artists all over the world, and has been considered a ground breaker in many aspects of the art of grappling.
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