[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. In Loving Memory of Judo Gene LeBell, 1932-2022 LeBell was 89 years old. He won the Amateur Athletic Union National Judo Championships in 1954 and 1955 when he was 22, according to Black Belt Magazine. 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. 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. Allen Lopa, Congrats to a legend!! He subsequently dominated auditions for the role of Mr. Kryptonite in the Superman TV series, which ran from 1952 to 1958; actor George Reeves, who played the Man of Steel, hired him on the spot after seeing his high-flying judo rolls and flips. 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. LeBells top student, Gokor Chivichyan, hosted the event at his martial arts academy to celebrate the life of his mentor and close friend. 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. LeBells roots in combat sports ran deep. Despite his martial arts credentials, LeBell did not immediately connect with wrestling audiences. Those were great times !! Gene LeBell has three children Monica, Danny, and David. There is no one alive on this planet that deserves this Life Time Achievement Award more than you. Gary Davis, So awesome!!! 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. Plus, Nadine Smith on the Agendas Behind Wrestling Documentaries. Mal, Jo, and Ben get together to talk about where the Mandalorian people are, what adventure awaits Din and Grogu, and much more. This award is only given to a select few. He believed in me which made me believe in myself. After his mother remarried, LeBell was raised near L.A.s old Olympic Auditorium. Bob Debbie Hennessey, Congrats Gene. Roberts, Nobody in the world more respected!! Judo Gene LeBell has died at age 89 - Cageside Seats "[24], Seagal bodyguard and stuntman Steven Lambert, stated he was present and said that a confrontation did happen. Seagal himself denies the entire situation, calling LeBell a sick, pathological scumbag liar, though even Seagals former bodyguard Steven Lambert tells a version of the story that has Seagal attempting to resist LeBells application of the hold before winding up on the ground, though remaining conscious throughout. [20], LeBell also appeared in "The World of Martial Arts Budojujitsu". We cant have blood! Gaffer tape stanched the bleeding, and LeBell managed six more takes. In his book Shooters: The Toughest Men in Professional Wrestling, long-time MMA journalist Jonathan Snowden described LeBell as a horrible professional wrestler from a technical perspective, a tough guy who looked soft in the ring and remained stuck on the undercard of his brother Mike LeBells wrestling events, wrestling under his own name or beneath a mask as the Hangman. He did claim to have won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in 1960 from Pat OConnor in a match in Dory Funks Amarillo, Texas, territory, repeating this assertion to both Black Belt and Sports Illustrated, but the victory was almost certainly part of a wrestling story line, with LeBell accidentally striking the Texas wrestling commissioner with the belt and forcing its immediate return to OConnor. As wellback in the day..i drove out to ride motos with Gene & some friends at his area in Frazier Park. 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. Interview with Gene LeBell. With love and affection, Sandy Gimpel, Congrats on your big nite!! The program featured several other martial artists including Graciela Casilas, Karen Sheperd, Victor Ledbetter, Steve Sanders, brothers Benny and Reuben Urquidez, and Dave Vaden. We are all so proud of you, youre a legend. Its about time!! LeBell!!! [30], LeBell and Ginsburgs were former friends and business partners of Hall. 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. It was agreed that the match would last five 3 three minute rounds. [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. Love ya Gene. "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. The toughest man alive by Gene LeBell . He worked on over 1,000 movies and wrote a dozen books. Love ya, Buddy Joe Hooker, My dear friend Gene. Some of his most famous students were, Ronda Rousey, Sugar Ray Robinson,. He was born in Los Angeles, California. LeBell's students included AnnMaria De Mars, the first American to ever win a gold medal at the World Judo Championships in 1984, and De Mars' daughter, Ronda Rousey, who became the first. Well deserved !!! Your positivity and generosity knows no limit. An incredible life being rightfully recognized. The grappling club master . Gene LeBell is a legend in the world of MMA and Martial Arts. Are the Lakers dead? 2005, Learn how and when to remove this template message, contest between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki, Golden Boy Promotions: Liddell vs. Ortiz 3, NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship, George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship, NWA North American Heavyweight Championship, "IBK International Kyokushin Budokai Blak Belts", "Roots of Fight Brings Us the Story of "Judo" Gene LeBell MMA Pioneer and Terrifying Old Man", "Could Gene LeBell beat up Bruce Lee? He has fought, trained and performed with a dizzying array of some of the most prolific athletes and actors in the world. Still, he continued to get regular stunt work on TV. [2] LeBell has worked on over 1000 TV Show and Film projects. Home | hayastanmma 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. "Judo" Gene LeBelle Passes Away At Age 89 | Rajah.com 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. [3][4], In 2000, the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) promoted LeBell to 9th dan in jujitsu and taihojutsu. Gene LeBell reflects on 50th anniversary of first major American mixed Anil Rai, Congratulations Mr. Congratulations, Connie P Conrad Palmisano, Congratulations Uncle Gene for receiving the lifetime award. Born in Los Angeles in 1932, LeBell was shipped off to a military. The pictures above are from the TV show Fall Guy and I told Gene I didnt want to hit him on the bike and he said I dont want you to hit me eitheryou may hurt yourself. Congratulations Gene, you earned this award and no one in this world is taking it away from the Toughest man Alive. Jack Gill. A long overdue, but well deserved award. Matt and Craig talk Oscar tactics and more, then later end the show with a prediction about Chris Rocks live comedy special on Netflix, Rachel and Callie also talk all the Bravo news of the week, By submitting your email, you agree to our. Almost everyone present to honor him wore a Gene LeBell tee-shirt, and his widow Midge sported a sweater covered in patches that LeBell made over the years to give out to fans for souvenirs. Something went wrong. Beck claimed that a boxer could defeat any martial artist in a straight fight and offered $1000 to anyone who could prove otherwise. Well deserved my hat is off to you sir!!! Gene LeBell in 2010 and with Lindsay Wagner on 'The Bionic Woman' in 1976 GI. Gene LeBell was chosen for the match out of over 200 candidates. [8] Gene also wrestled under a black mask as The Hangman, teaming up with Roy Staggs. "[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. He was seen in Rousey's corner during matches and celebrated her victories with her. The only thing I have against MMA is they dont have a retirement plan. 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! Today we will take a look at just a fraction of it. Gene LeBell chokes out student and he has 'accident' Congratulations brother Gene!!! In 2004, Gene Lebell was promoted to 10th degree black belt in those arts. Norman Howell, Congratulations Gene LeBell an incredible Honor an so well deserved. Professional wrestler Bas Rutten announced LeBell's death via Facebook, writing, "You will be greatly missed Gene, If you saw Quentin Tarantino's . Jimmy Roberts, Gene youve always told me Im the best but your THE GREATEST Love ya, Manny Perry, I owe everything to Gene. His death was announced by Kellie Cunningham, his trustee and business manager, who did not. Bryan Danielson's LeBell Lock was named after the legendary grappler. Is MJF the Second Coming of CM Punk? 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. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG). I have ridden on the back of his bike for one of his marathon wheelies.Pine Mtn Club so much fun. 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. 'The Godfather of Grappling' evolved to be a popular figure in the martial arts world after he extended to various other forms of sports, including judo and mixed martial arts. After earning these titles, LeBell made the transition to professional wrestling because of the promise of better earnings in the sport. Few people know the amount of time, energy, dedication, innovation , and pure love you have graced us with in your illustrious career! R.I.P. legendary wrestler and stunt performer Gene LeBell - The A.V. Club In 1994, LeBell counted kickboxing champion Benny Urquidez and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners the Machado brothers among his training partners. David would look at me glassy eyed and say No you dont! Melanson specializes in catch wrestling, while drawing elements from judo, and focuses his coaching specifically on grappling in mixed martial arts.He is especially known for his guard work, leg locks and triangle chokes. 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.. 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. [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). LeBell helped Seagal up. Mr. LeBell died on Aug. 9 at his home in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles. Stoked I get to make it this year. Inside Hall's residence police discovered hours of wire-tapped recordings, some of which led to the resignation of the Beverly Hills police department chief of police. 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. BJJ Fanatics was started by a pair of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts who know that nothing is more important for a fellow fanatic than their time on the mat. Whats legacy, anyway? 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. Gene LeBell, Famed Stuntman and "Godfather of Grappling," Dies at 89 It is his 90th birthday and a celebration and memorial for him, Chivichyan said. 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. He is currently the head grappling coach at Jaco Hybrid Training Center.He is the former head grappling coach at both . And in February, 2005 Gene LeBell was promoted to 9th degree black belt in judo by USJJF. 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. Gene LeBell heard about the proclamation and decided to take Seagal up on the challenge. On August 7, 2004, the World Martial Arts Masters Association promoted him to 10th degree. Neil Melanson is an American submission grappling coach. If you want to do a whizzer throw in wrestling, its the same as an uchimata [inner thigh throw] in judo. Gene Lebell, who had an acting and stunt career that stretched from The Adventures of Ozzie . It goes to a great man of strength, integrity and honor. 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.
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