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. His talent in his field was known worldwide and those that got to know him knew he had a heart that matched that talent, the groups statement added. [17] Ultimately, nothing came from it. He learnt that the hard way when he came face to face with 'Judo' Gene Lebell and boasted that he was able to escape any hold that the human body could throw at him. 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. 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. The fun motorcycle rides we used to go on out at the Pig Farm and at your mountain house. In December 1939, his parents went to Chinatown, San Francisco in California for an international opera tour. And later on, there is discussion of whether or not double-dipping is an acceptable way to eat! To this day you are still teaching and sharing your wealth of knowledge with the next generation! They knew each other and worked together on the Green Hornet. Well done sir! The tributes for "Judo" Gene LeBell, who died on August 9, 2022, at age 89, poured in after news of his passing starting circulating. I have grown up idolizing many of the SU members over the yearsGenes massive career and list of credits is insane. He was known by many as the "Godfather of Grappling," and influenced fighters around the world. [6], Ivan Gene LeBell was born in Los Angeles, California. For most of Eatons time in the business, she was the only major female fight promoter in the United States, possibly even the world. He taught fighters like Rowdy Roddy Piper, Chuck Norris, and Ronda Rousey how to grapple and regularly trained Bruce Lee. Wear this Award well my friend. Congratulations, Connie P Conrad Palmisano, Congratulations Uncle Gene for receiving the lifetime award. 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. With love and affection, Sandy Gimpel, Congrats on your big nite!! LeBell established himself as a martial artist long before he moved to Hollywood. Congratulations Gene. He was a Nevada and California Athletic Commission judge. [7] In 1954 and 1955, while only 22 years of age, he captured both the heavyweight and overall Amateur Athletic Union National Judo Championships. Over the course of this six-decade career, LeBell had a hand in training many prominent players in the entertainment, wrestling, and MMA worlds. We love him! The toughest man alive by Gene LeBell . 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. 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. It is with a heavy heart that we recognize our past member and friend, Mr. Gene LeBell, has passed on. Oops. 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. Proud to be your friend! Alan Oliney, Hey Gene, Thanks for being a four-star mentor to so many and thanks for being Gene Lebell. Mary Karcz, Hi Gene, Id just like to Congratulate you on your receiving the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award. Gene LeBell won his weight class and the overall championship in 1955 as well. The Alabama passer is one of the smallest QB prospects to be pegged as a first-round pick. It hurt. The only thing that is different is that judo has strangleholds, which arent done in pro wrestling., Although LeBell considered full-time careers as a boxer and a judoka, the lure of better money in pro wrestling and Hollywood stunt productionsas well as connections to both industriesled him into those fields. 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's net worth is estimated to be approximately $6 million dollars. I thought I was the only one. Seems like yesterday, lifes crazy like that, huh? Osu J.J. Perry, Gene, Ill never forget the time on set, when you let me try and choke you out. It has been alleged that at some point LeBell heard about the claim and gave Seagal the opportunity to prove it. 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. 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[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). In June 1976, LeBell refereed the infamous boxing-versus-wrestling contest between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki in Tokyo, Japan. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him, especially us. Gene LeBell heard about the proclamation and decided to take Seagal up on the challenge. I made very good money, and it led me into a career in stunt work.. Love ya, Bax Craig Baxley, Sr. Gene LeBell: Bruce Lee in the UFC, Ronda Rousey, if anybody can beat her, Judo in MMA, Jimmy Kimmel, Congratulations Gene..its about time!!! [20], LeBell also appeared in "The World of Martial Arts Budojujitsu". 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. For a time, he took on a role as "policeman" for the organization, helping to maintain order. 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. Gene LeBell was chosen for the match out of over 200 candidates. 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. Gene LeBell in 2010 and with Lindsay Wagner on 'The Bionic Woman' in 1976 GI. 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. 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. #246C,Beverly, MA 01915,United States. He repeated this dominant performance in 1955, winning all but one of his 18 matches solely with standing throws. Other recordings discovered had ties to the presidential campaign of Richard Nixon. 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! Craig Hosking, Congratulations Gene you are a legend! His very first match was against John Osako, one of the highest ranked judokas at the national level. After an illustrious judo career, Gene tried his hand at professional wrestling, and actually won the heavyweight title in Amarillo, Texas. (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. 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. In 1954, at the age of 20, Gene won the National Heavyweight Judo Championshi and the USA Overall Judo championship title. All my love and respect Pat Romano, Ya ya Uncle Gene , to one of the Gilberts favorite people . 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. You too? Mickey Gilbert, Ill never forget working with Gene in Minneapolis for David Ellis. 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. Ed Lewis. 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 . "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. [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]. LeBell would win the match osaekomi where the practitioner pins the opponent for a specified amount of time earning the victory. Freddie Blassie. LeBell accompanied Ronda Rousey to the cage for some of her MMA matches in recent years, and served as a MMA judge through 2018. [citation needed] In addition he also worked on the set of the Green Hornet TV show, in which he developed a friendship with Bruce Lee. "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. There he found quick success. Congratulations brother Gene!!! Bruce Lee. Love ya Gene. 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. 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 also a judo and grappling prodigy. Will Bowman, Well deserved! LeBell was 89 years old. Jim Winburn, Long time coming Papa Gene. 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. Along the way, his list of big-name collaborators, students, and opponents became as packed as his CV; in addition to Lee, . You always tried to get me to go dirt biking with you but I never gave in. He would also occasionally wrestle in a disguise as The Hangman. Thank you Gene for your friendship over the decades. He was a Nevada and California Athletic Commission judge. Then consider checking: 100 Cummings Ctr. AEW, Triple H & WWE acknowledged LeBell's influence. 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. It has been an honor to work with you ,and see how much you have done, over the years. Chuck & Charlotte Waters, Special man and amazing human being, so deserving of this recognition. The two became close friends, but the actors untimely death stymied LeBells chance for future speaking parts. This match could be argued to be the first televised MMA match in history. 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 . His mother, Aileen Eaton, promoted fights at the Olympic Auditorium and was the first woman inducted into the International Boxing Hall of . In 1994, LeBell counted kickboxing champion Benny Urquidez and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners the Machado brothers among his training partners. LeBell's conviction for being an accessory was later overturned by the California Courts of Appeal. 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. Whats legacy, anyway? As wellback in the day..i drove out to ride motos with Gene & some friends at his area in Frazier Park. 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. He has trained several notable students including Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Ronda Rousey. 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. Ivan Gene LeBell (October 9, 1932 - August 9, 2022) was an American martial artist, instructor, stunt performer, and professional wrestler. His second best fight was probably his back and forth battle with 80's and 90's martial arts action star Steven Seagal. Many modern-day MMA fans recognize LeBell as the one who is present in many of Rousey's early games, coaching her on. Chris Pellitteri, Mr. Gene LeBell ; Thank you for your kindness and wisdom over the years. After, my arms were trembling with strain, you told me to stop and smiled at me, and said kid, dont quit your day job. Is MJF the Second Coming of CM Punk? Here's an attempt to share some of those posts and tweets from the cross . There has also been rumors that the unconscious Seagal may have soiled himself. 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. 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. Congratulations my brother!!! Instructed through brutal tutorials by professional wrestlers and old-school masters, he developed adult skills by 13. LeBell passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, just two months shy of being a nonagenarian. He was a man that no endeavor was too tall for him to accomplish, Josh Barnett said of LeBell. Gene LeBell was promoted to 9th degree in jujitsu and taihojutsu in 2000 by the United States Ju-Jitsu (USJJF) Ju Jitsu Federation. In 2000, the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) promoted him to 9th Dan in jujitsu and taihojutsu. 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). Savanah Dawn Lilley, The one and only Uncle Gene! A industry standard, and great human being! Our aim is to create a shop for BJJ Students who don't look at Jiu-Jitsu as a sport - but a lifestyle. [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. [10] LeBell tried several techniques through the second and third rounds and was finally successful in taking Savage down, but Savage kept defending both standing and on the ground in a very technical manner, seemingly confirming LeBell's theory about his opponent's grappling training. You truly are a one-off, a living legend. [9], The match took place on December 2, 1963. He went on to win the both the Heavyweight and overall champion title 1955 as well. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. August 18 | 2022. blackbeltmag.com. 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. Bruce Lee's father Lee Hoi-chuen was a famous Cantonese opera singer based in Hong Kong. You have given so much to our community and film business! 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. Please enter a valid email and try again. May we all continue to learn from you and strive to reach the heights youve reached. The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1 Deep Dive, The Biggest Questions About the Seasons Stretch Run, KDs Suns Debut, Load Management, and Five-Year Anniversary of the Rockets-Clippers Tunnel Debacle. To quote C.S. After winning amateur national competitions in judo, LeBell decided to make the switch to pro wrestling as it offered more lucrative earnings. 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. Best Hugh Aodh OBrien, All Rights Reserved.Web design by My Life at Speed Digital Services, Stan Barrett, Paul Newman, and Breaking Land Speed Records, Annual Stunts Unlimited Directory Membership Payment, The Stunts Unlimited Directory Membership 20% Off Promotion, actor and stuntman in Hollywood productions, https://stuntsunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Jon-Boucher-One-of-my-personal-favorite-Gene-Lebell-television-appearances-as-Tarzan-McGirk-taking-on-the-mysterious-Masked-Marvel-on-an-episode-of-The-Munsters..mp4, In Loving Memory of Judo Gene LeBell, 1932-2022. Sometimes Steven has a tendency to cheese off the wrong people, and you can get hurt doing that. If you want to do a whizzer throw in wrestling, its the same as an uchimata [inner thigh throw] in judo. (James C. Udel, Variety, 2018), A fight scene on the sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet earned LeBell his SAG card. Its an honor to be your student and friend. 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.. 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. RIP Gene LeBell - Part II. Professional wrestler Bas Rutten announced LeBell's death via Facebook, writing, "You will be greatly missed Gene, Ivan Gene LeBell (born October 9, 1932) is an American martial artist, instructor, stunt performer, and professional wrestler born in Los Angeles, California. 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? 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. Long overdue! Ian Avabe, You Rock a Master of all well deserved Si PJ Hooper Kelly, Congratulations Gene. LeBell was selected from over 200 other applicants to referee the bout. LeBell's longtime friend Bas Rutten first revealed the news on Facebook. Nicknamed "The Godfather of Grappling", he popularized grappling in professional fighting circles, serving as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts. He popularized grappling in pro-fighting circles and had a famous run-in with Steven Seagal. He began training catch wrestling at age 7 with Ed "The Strangler" Lewis. As a stuntman, LeBell reportedly endured a punch from John Wayne for the 1952 film Big Jim McLain and a kick in the face from Elvis Presley for Blue Hawaii in 1961. Lance Gilbert, Gene , you are surely deserving of this achievement even though your humility wont allow you to agree with us. Along with many others, speakers included Ronda Rousey, former UFC champion, WWE professional wrestler, actress and Olympic Judo medalist; Bas Rutten, former UFC Heavyweight Champion and a three-time King of Pancrase world champion; catch wrestler, former UFC Heavyweight Champion, former Openweight King of Pancrase world champion, and Bellator fighter; and AnnMaria De Mars, first American to win a gold medal at the World Judo Championships. 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. [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. At 12 LeBell took up judo. His death was announced by Kellie Cunningham, his trustee and business manager, who did not. 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. It always put a smile on my face when you would call the SAMP office. (James C. Udel, Variety, 2018), Gene started training in judo at a young age, and at the age of 20 in 1954, he won National AAU Heavyweight Judo Championship and the USA Overall Judo Championship title. Bryan Danielson's LeBell Lock was named after the legendary grappler. 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. Gene Lebell, who had an acting and stunt career that stretched from The Adventures of Ozzie . 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. If I could get my arms around you I would hug you. On Sunday, Oct. 9, legendary martial artist and stuntman "Judo" Gene LeBell would have turned 90. Congratulations Gene Eric Norris, Gene LeBell is my hero and always has been. 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. Ronda Rousey, Bryan Danielson, and many more idolized the . 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. Norman Howell, Congratulations Gene LeBell an incredible Honor an so well deserved. [23] LeBell's trainee Ronda Rousey, assured Seagal was the one lying and said: "If [Seagal] says anything bad about Gene to my face, I'd have to make him crap his pants a second time. Stoked I get to make it this year. In the martial arts, he captured the National A.A.U. To his surprise, he learned his opponent would not be Beck but a higher regarded boxer, Milo Savage, who also had a background in amateur wrestling. 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. Ill toast you from Texas! Judo Gene LeBell was famous for his catch wrestling technique that later became an influence in both pro wrestling and mixed martial arts. The seeds that Gene LeBell helped plant have grown into the modern landscape of mixed martial arts that we know today.