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. Gene LeBell had three children including stuntman son David LeBell and FBI agent daughter Monica LeBell Pandis. In a story worthy of the detective novels of Raymond Chandler, LeBell, who drove California pornography magnate Jack Ginsburgs to the murder scene, was acquitted on a murder charge but convicted and sentenced to probation as an accessory for his role in transporting Ginsburgs to the murdera conviction later overturned by the California Court of Appeals in a heavily fact-dependent decision based on careful interpretation of state rules of evidence rather than any new proof of LeBells innocence. !Thanks for the memories!! Chuck Norris. Gene LeBell was born on October 9, 1932. [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. He was 89. [10] Also, according to LeBell and other sources, Savage's gloves contained brass knuckles[9][10] and he had greased up his gi with vaseline to make gripping it more difficult. Not long after, he began training judo. (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. It is his 90th birthday and a celebration and memorial for him, Chivichyan said. He was acquitted and continued performing stunts for the big and small screen, alike. As soon as he landed, LeBell used a foot sweep to sweep Seagal off the floor, with Seagal landing on his back. Most of his notoriety came after the release of his biggest film, Enter the Dragon, that same year. Oops. if thirty people are watching, let them talk about it. Derek spoke with Matthew Biel of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital about rising teenage unhappiness and what we can do to fix it, All You Touch and All You See: Dark Side of the Moon at 50. He worked in. Gene LeBell in 2010 and with Lindsay Wagner on 'The Bionic Woman' in 1976 GI. You are an inspiration!! What are you doing? LeBell remembers the helmer lamenting. Love ya Gene. Billy Robinson. 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. [10][11] Nevertheless, LeBell got mount and found the opportunity to execute an armbar, but he opted instead to seek a choke, concluding that Savage would not surrender to a broken arm. ", "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. [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. Anil Rai, Congratulations Mr. We cant have blood! Gaffer tape stanched the bleeding, and LeBell managed six more takes. 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. He has trained with or taught grappling skills to many well-known wrestlers and martial artists, such as Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, Bob Wall, Chuck Norris, Ed Parker, Gokor Chivichyan, Karo Parisyan, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Mando Guerrero, Manny Gamburyan. You have definitely earned it for all your contributions to the industry. You may have seen his name in the credits of countless movies and television shows dating back to the late 1960's. You may have caught the "Godfather of Grappling" in one of his matches in the world of professional wrestling, you may know him as the "toughest man on the . The Bahamas Wrestling Association: Black Wrestling and the Birth of a Nation. So they said I could make good money in professional wrestling, which I did. On the day of the match, Savage appeared wearing a karategi instead, much tighter and harder to grab. LeBell served as the referee for the exhibition match between world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki on June 26, 1976, at . Michael Hilow, Congratulations to the prettiest man in Hollywood, and the reason the phrase Bad Ass was created.. No one is more deserving than my buddy, and everyones Uncle.. Uncle Gene! Ivan Judo Gene LeBell (October 9, 1932 August 9, 2022) was an American martial artist, stunt performer, actor, and professional wrestler. Cheers! Your culture and entertainment cheat-sheet. 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. Gary Davis, So awesome!!! Please enter a valid email and try again. Aloha, Brian Keaulana, Congratulations Gene! "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. Gene LeBell Record, Net Worth, Weight, Age & More. Influential combat sports icon "Judo" Gene LeBell has died at 89. August 18 | 2022. blackbeltmag.com. 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. Brandon Recor, Congratulations!!! A notable one was the 'Hot Rod' himself, 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper. However, the writing was on the wall for Savage: LeBell threw and then mounted the boxer in the second round, although he couldnt secure a finish, then hip-tossed him in the fourth round before using a gi choke to render his foe unconsciousmuch to the displeasure of the crowd, which was unused to seeing people choked in this way. After winning amateur national competitions in judo, LeBell decided to make the switch to pro wrestling as it offered more lucrative earnings. 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. Gene LeBell was promoted to 9th degree in jujitsu and taihojutsu in 2000 by the United States Ju-Jitsu (USJJF) Ju Jitsu Federation. (James C. Udel, Variety, 2018). Few will live a life as extraordinary as Gene LeBell has. 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. #246C,Beverly, MA 01915,United States. Gene LeBell was born on October 9, 1932. This is his wish, to do this, and I promised him that Im going to do this on his birthday, and I keep my promise today.. The Alabama passer is one of the smallest QB prospects to be pegged as a first-round pick. Others awarded have been James Cagney, Kirk Douglas, Karl Malden, Cesar Romero, Mickey Rooney, and Sylvester Stallone (movie stars that also did boxing and wrestling). The Toughest Man Alive. August 10, 2022 1:24pm. [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. Gene LeBell's martial arts career was supported and influenced by his mother "Red Head" Aileen Eaten who was a promoter of both sports and who owned the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. So happy for you. Its about time!! 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. David would look at me glassy eyed and say No you dont! This award is only given to a select few. Many modern-day MMA fans recognize LeBell as the one who is present in many of Rousey's early games, coaching her on. After, my arms were trembling with strain, you told me to stop and smiled at me, and said kid, dont quit your day job. LeBells years of stunt work and fight choreography also introduced grappling to the world of action movies, where it is now commonplace to see fighters turned actors such as Randy Couture and Gina Carano using submission holds in their action sequences. Congratulations brother Gene!!! Wrestlers & MMA stars pay tribute to Gene LeBell. He is currently 89 years old. Colleagues, friends and fans (in most cases they qualify as all three) have contributed their congratulations to the living legend that is Judo Gene LeBell. "I learned the [LeBell Lock] from a guy named Neil Melanson," Danielson told the WWE website in 2010. 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. thank you so much for all the encouragement over all these decades . He was also a Nevada and California Athletic Commission judge, including judging UFC 74 (Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga) and his website judogene.com is visited by martial arts and film fans all over the globe. Andy Gill, Congratulations Gene !!! It was the long-running Lassie series that first tested LeBells mettle. As a lifelong student of what we have come to call combat sports, still living and teaching at age 87, LeBell has become one of the world's experts. Along the way, his list of big-name collaborators, students, and opponents became as packed as his CV; in addition to Lee, . 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). Judo Gene!!! Logan Holladay, Congratulations to Uncle Gene for a lifetime of stunts and terrorizing the stunt people; either riding dirt bikes or putting them to sleep. Congratulations Gene LeBell! "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. It will be donated to St. Jude Childrens Hospital, Southern California, in honor of LeBell. Thank you Gene for your friendship over the decades. It has been an honor to work with you ,and see how much you have done, over the years. Congratulations Uncle Gene! 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. He has trained several notable students including Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Ronda Rousey. Since Hayastan MMA Academy first opened its door, it has been one of the top gyms in the world. Something went wrong. [4] LeBell appeared in three Elvis Presley movies as a minor character who starts a fight with the character played by Presley. [10], The loss by Savage, the hometown favorite, caused the crowd to react violently. 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. Wear this Award well my friend. You have given so much to our community and film business! 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. . 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. Along with the awards received for feats in judo and grappling, LeBell was the 2005 recipient of the Frank Gotch Award in celebration of the positive recognition he brought to the sport of wrestling. 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. For LeBell, one martial art naturally flowed into another; they were already mixing together in his curious mind. Answer (1 of 12): Well It seems to be a bit of a controversy about this. 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. 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. Gene Lebell, who had an acting and stunt career that stretched from The Adventures of Ozzie . [9], Encouraged by Ed Parker,[8] LeBell accepted the challenge and travelled to Salt Lake City to meet Beck. 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.. Whats different about the Sixers this year? [3][4], In 2000, the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) promoted LeBell to 9th dan in jujitsu and taihojutsu. 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. It couldnt go to a better man. Contents Roddy Piper Talks MMA and Judo Gene LeBell A video shown at the memorial featured many of his accomplishments from the stunt and martial arts world, evoking smiles, laughter and tears that had many in the crowd wiping their eyes. One thing I learned was never never mess with Gene LeBell. LeBell later mentored world-class athletes and silver screen legends. Alan Oliney, Hey Gene, Thanks for being a four-star mentor to so many and thanks for being Gene Lebell. After his competitive career, Gene LeBell would go on to become a martial arts instructor, a professional wrestler, stunt performer and actor in Los Angeles. A pair of red shorts were mixed into the laundry that contained his Gi and turned the uniform a shade of pink. "[21], When Seagal was asked about the incident, he denied the incident took place, calling LeBell a "sick, pathological scumbag liar" and offered the name of a witness who could discredit the other account. The fun motorcycle rides we used to go on out at the Pig Farm and at your mountain house. 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. Mal, Jo, and Ben get together to talk about where the Mandalorian people are, what adventure awaits Din and Grogu, and much more. Challenge coins, decorated with an image of LeBell, were sold for donations, which raised more than $2,000. In a fifty year career of high falls and fist fights, Gene LeBell has crashed cars, jumped motorcycles, wrestled bears, incited riots and fought some of the deadliest men in the world. There is no one alive on this planet that deserves this Life Time Achievement Award more than you. G-E-N-E Capital-L-E-Capital-B-E-L-L. . 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. [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). Gene is survived by his wife Midge, his children Monica and David; stepchildren Danny and Stacey; and grandchildren Daniel, Tyler and Nicholas. He was born there on November 27, 1940, making him a dual Hong Kong and United States citizen by birth. I tried to get your son some work but hes always at the beach. Bruce Lee's father Lee Hoi-chuen was a famous Cantonese opera singer based in Hong Kong. Is Golden State a sleeping giant? McCarthy, veteran actress Karen Black and legendary wrestling and martial arts teacher famous for Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. LeBell accompanied Ronda Rousey to the cage for some of her MMA matches in recent years, and served as a MMA judge through 2018. LeBell even awarded Piper a legitimate Black Belt in Judo . With love and affection, Sandy Gimpel, Congrats on your big nite!! According to the Hollywood Reporter, famed stunt performer Gene LeBell died on August 9 at the age of 89. You can follow him on Twitter (@MoustacheClubUS) and read more of his work at www.oliverbateman.com. Gene LeBell has had a number of notable students throughout the years, from Hollywood legends like Chuck Norris and Roddy Pipper, to martial arts masters such as Gokor Chivichyan, Karo Parisyan, Ronda Rousey, Neil Melanson, Ed Parker and Benny "The Jet" Urquidez to name a few. AEW, Triple H & WWE acknowledged LeBell's influence. 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. If I have seen further it has been by standing on the shoulders of giants like you!! Sugar Ray Robinson. Meet the real life Cliff Booth from 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood', "Gene LeBell vs Milo Savage: Gene LeBell Saved Martial Arts", "Matches Gene LeBell Wrestlers Database CAGEMATCH - the Internet Wrestling Database", "TOUGH GUYS WEAR PINK IN ANY COLOR, JUDO MASTER AND FILM STUNTMAN GENE LEBELL IS ONE HARD HOMBRE", Gene LeBell talks Steven Seagal s-ing himself, https://www.mmafighting.com/strikeforce/2012/3/11/2858055/judo-gene-lebell-ronda-rousey-mma-judging-choking-out-steven-segal, Steven Seagal denies Gene LeBell made him poop his pants, "Ronda Rousey: 'If Steven Seagal says anything about Gene LeBell to my face, I'll make him crap his pants', "Truth Finally Revealed on Seagal and LeBell According to Actual Eyewitness Steven Lambert Testimony! [30], LeBell and Ginsburgs were former friends and business partners of Hall. Gene LeBell would ultimately choke his opponent unconscious after a tentative start to the match. You always got the cool moves to Choke em Out .. stay healthy my friend .. Love, Troy Gilbert, Unreal. Black Belt EXCLUSIVE. LeBell has also worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows and has authored 12 books. The pink gi was inspired by a trip LeBell took to Japan where a pair of his red socks or shorts made their way into the laundry, turning his white uniform to pink. Im honored to know you! Gene LeBell, Famed Stuntman and "Godfather of Grappling," Dies at 89 A martial artist and judo champion, he taught Bruce Lee, fought in an early mixed martial arts fight and served as an. LeBell also gained notoriety for the way he dealt with the notoriously eccentric and aggressive Steven Seagal on the set of the 1991 film Out for Justice. Jimmy Roberts, Gene youve always told me Im the best but your THE GREATEST Love ya, Manny Perry, I owe everything to Gene. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. LeBell authored at least twelve books, including: On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The godfather of modern grappling and a legitimate tough guy in his own right, LeBell. RIP Gene LeBell - Part II. As wellback in the day..i drove out to ride motos with Gene & some friends at his area in Frazier Park. With only one uniform in his luggage, he wore the pink gi in Japan, and beat the competition. LeBell has made himself the nicknames "Judo" Gene LeBell, "The Godfather of Grappling" and also "The Toughest Man Alive" for his . [7][10] Savage even attempted to sweep the judoka in one instance. Sometimes Steven has a tendency to cheese off the wrong people, and you can get hurt doing that. . 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. Brad Curran June 8, 2018 Interviews. J.N. Congratulations Gene Eric Norris, Gene LeBell is my hero and always has been. As a stuntman, Gene has worked on more than 1000 film and television projects during a career that has spanned over 50 years. He won the Amateur Athletic Union National Judo Championships in 1954 and 1955 when he was 22, according to Black Belt Magazine. Within seconds, Savage fell unconscious and LeBell was declared the winner. God Bless you Gene and your lovely wife and thanks you for all the things you taught me. He eventually adopted the role as "policeman" for the promotion, maintaining law and order, especially during matches involving his brother Mike LeBell. UFC 285 Preview: Can Jon Jones Turn Back the Clock? LeBell judged fights for several decades, but retired from it after Golden Boy Promotions: Liddell vs. Ortiz 3 on November 24, 2018. In return, the boxer's camp agreed that he would wear a Judo Gi or uniform, although he ultimately wore a Karate Gi which fit much tighter and was more difficult to grab onto. Voters will soon get a say, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. Mary Karcz, Hi Gene, Id just like to Congratulate you on your receiving the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award. developed adult skills by 13. Working with Gene on many television and films, I learned how to take judo and marital art punches and kicks and fly through the air, crazing through various objects to the ground . Despite his martial arts credentials, LeBell did not immediately connect with wrestling audiences. 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.