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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. Tough Guys Wear Pink in Any Color, Judo Master and Film Stuntman Gene (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), AnnMaria De Mars (L), with her daughter former UFC Champion and WWE star Ronda Rousey and Rouseys daughter Po, pose 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. It always put a smile on my face when you would call the SAMP office. 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. He has trained several notable students including Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Ronda Rousey. Gene LeBell had thousands of students over the years. #246C,Beverly, MA 01915,United States. 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. Well deserved.- Bonnie Happy, Well deserved. All the best! His mother, Aileen Eaton, promoted fights at the Olympic Auditorium and was the first woman inducted into the International Boxing Hall of . . 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. wrote the Stuntmans Association of Motion Pictures in a statement to Variety, whose portrayal of an overconfident Lee by actor Mike Moh in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood spurred backlash. Thank you Gene for your friendship over the decades. Gene LeBell, Famed Stuntman and "Godfather of Grappling," Dies at 89 Stoked I get to make it this year. The Life & Legend of "Judo" Gene LeBell - POST Wrestling 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. Gene LeBell was born on October 9, 1932. "[22] After being asked whether he was not going to directly confirm it, LeBell said: "Well, if thirty people are watching, let them talk about it. His mother, Aileen Eaton, was a promoter at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, where she promoted boxing and wrestling events and raised Gene and his brother Mike all by her lonesome. As a stuntman, Gene has worked on more than 1000 film and television projects during a career that has spanned over 50 years. Congratulations my brother!!! Gene LeBell was a man who lived a full and adventurous life. American judoka and martial arts instructor (19322022), "The Hangman (wrestler)" redirects here. Ronnie and Mary Rondell, Congratulations Uncle Gene! The only thing I have against MMA is they dont have a retirement plan. He was seen in Rousey's corner during matches and celebrated her victories with her. [7] According to fellow BJJ artist Royce Gracie, LeBell was invited to compete in Ultimate Fighting Championship in early 1995, after Gracie stopped participating in its tournaments. With respect, Missy OMalley-Reynolds, Uncle Gene, Thanks for never burning our house down. LeBell was never a main-event star in wrestling and by even the most generous assessment wasnt exactly a crowd-pleaser in the ring. What Really Happened When Bruce Lee Met Gene LeBell Why Are American Teens So Unhappy? 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. Grand Master Gi Grappling by Gokor Chivichyan. 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. Few people know the amount of time, energy, dedication, innovation , and pure love you have graced us with in your illustrious career! With love and affection, Sandy Gimpel, Congrats on your big nite!! Gene LeBell - Biography - IMDb Gene LeBell in 2010 and with Lindsay Wagner on 'The Bionic Woman' in 1976 GI. Gene LeBell died in his sleep on August 9 th 22, at age 89, two months to the day shy of his 90 th birthday. Judo Gene LeBell the Godfather of Grappling was both a renowned ex-world champion in both wrestling/judo, and one of Hollywoods busiest stuntmen. Legendary MMA Trainer Gene LeBell Has Passed Away At 89 Gary Davis, So awesome!!! Whether through his chokes or his jokes, Gene LeBell has been an inspiration for more people than he will ever realize. LeBell is said to have placed his arms around Seagal's neck, and once Seagal said "go", proceeded to choke him unconscious, with Seagal losing control of his bowels. [29], LeBell was arrested, charged with, and tried for the July 1976 murder of private investigator Robert Duke Hall. Wrestlers & MMA stars pay tribute to Gene LeBell. He was 89. The Cauliflower Alley Club presented the award. Scott Wilder, Thank you Sensei for paving the way for martial artists in this biz! You are a true living legend. Ivan "Judo" Gene LeBell (October 9, 1932 - August 9, 2022) was an American martial artist, stunt performer, actor, and professional wrestler. 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. 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. LeBell later mentored world-class athletes and silver screen legends. Gene LeBell, 89, Judo Champion, Wrestler and Star Stuntman, Dies Ivan Gene LeBell was born in Los Angeles on Oct. 9, 1932. developed adult skills by 13. Aloha, Brian Keaulana, Congratulations Gene! If you want to do a whizzer throw in wrestling, its the same as an uchimata [inner thigh throw] in judo. Despite his martial arts credentials, LeBell did not immediately connect with wrestling audiences. It was agreed that the match would last five 3 three minute rounds. 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. You are an inspiration!! 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 . He had spent time in Japan training at the Kodokan. The seeds that Gene LeBell helped plant have grown into the modern landscape of mixed martial arts that we know today. Big hug and a kiss! Michael Hughes, Thank you for being such an influence and inspiration to MANY! You too? Its about time. 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. "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. Way to go Uncle Gene!!! You always tried to get me to go dirt biking with you but I never gave in. The Alabama passer is one of the smallest QB prospects to be pegged as a first-round pick. Nicknamed "The Godfather of Grappling", he popularized grappling in professional fighting circles, serving as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts. LeBell served as the inspiration for Brad Pitt's character in Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.. With only one uniform in his luggage, he wore the pink gi in Japan, and beat the competition. Gene LeBell Record, Net Worth, Weight, Age & More. Still, he continued to get regular stunt work on TV. The Bahamas Wrestling Association: Black Wrestling and the Birth of a Nation. In June 1976, LeBell refereed the infamous boxing-versus-wrestling contest between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki in Tokyo, Japan. 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. 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. LeBell helped Seagal up. Ivan Gene LeBell (born October 9, 1932) is an American martial artist, instructor, stunt performer, and professional wrestler born in Los Angeles, California. Mike Massa, Congratulations Gene!! In addition to spending extensive time in the world of . LeBell served as the referee for the exhibition match between world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki on June 26, 1976, at . Mal, Jo, and Ben get together to talk about where the Mandalorian people are, what adventure awaits Din and Grogu, and much more. [8] Gene also wrestled under a black mask as The Hangman, teaming up with Roy Staggs. Gene taught my three sons how to take every day life in the training under Gene. Alan Oliney, Hey Gene, Thanks for being a four-star mentor to so many and thanks for being Gene Lebell. 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. 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.. 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. Stuntman Gene LeBell might not have been around since Hollywood's first fist fight, but his skill has transformed the genre. Mr. LeBell died on Aug. 9 at his home in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles. [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. McCarthy, veteran actress Karen Black and legendary wrestling and martial arts teacher famous for Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. A pioneer of martial arts, he lived a long and fascinating life. Gene LeBell would ultimately choke his opponent unconscious after a tentative start to the match. 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. 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. His career bore that out. Hans Gutknecht has been a photojournalist at the Los Angeles Daily News since 1992. August 10, 2022 11:30 am ET. Gene has trained with numerous other world champion martial artists includingChuck Norris,Bill Wallace, andBenny Urquidez. Anil Rai, Congratulations Mr. When he arrived, Gene LeBell learned that he would not be fighting Beck, but instead a much more well-known boxer in Milo Savage. After an illustrious judo career, Gene tried his hand at professional wrestling, and actually won the heavyweight title in Amarillo, Texas. [9], The match took place on December 2, 1963. A notable one was the 'Hot Rod' himself, 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper. A half-century ago, Pink Floyd unleashed a classic that still lingers on the Billboard charts and in college dorms to this day. Don't miss a beat. Well done sir! Many modern-day MMA fans recognize LeBell as the one who is present in many of Rousey's early games, coaching her on. Remembering Gene LeBell - The Ringer You were a better reference than SAG! It has been an honor to work with you ,and see how much you have done, over the years. 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. The athletic youngster tested himself with such self-imposed challenges as scaling 60-foot-high lighting stanchions to replace spent bulbs. (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. On Sunday, Oct. 9, legendary martial artist and stuntman "Judo" Gene LeBell would have turned 90. 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. I was always jealous that you could ride a wheelie so much better than me. The boxer's camp even went as far to argue for the stipulation that Savage could use any type of punch, but the judoka could not kick or use takedowns under the waist. Theres way too much to say to even begin to scratch the surface of the career and life Gene lived, wrote the Stuntmans Association of Motion Pictures in a statement to Variety. To round out his education in the martial arts, he also began frequenting the Main Street Gym in Los Angeles, where the West Coast's best boxers gathered. He was acquitted and continued performing stunts for the big and small screen, alike. One day in. The legendary story of Steven Seagal and 'Judo' Gene Lebell Gene LeBell - Wikipedia !Thanks for the memories!! Judo Gene!!! Gene LeBell was chosen for the match out of over 200 candidates. In December 1939, his parents went to Chinatown, San Francisco in California for an international opera tour. Ill be there to shake your hand tomorrow. 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. LeBell was 89 years old. Sat 9th Apr 2022 19.30 BST. Neil Melanson - Wikipedia Please enter a valid email and try again. As soon as he landed, LeBell used a foot sweep to sweep Seagal off the floor, with Seagal landing on his back. Congratulations & we all love you. ( Aubrey Sitterson, rondarousey.com, 2018). This set the Japanese crowd livid, as it was considered very insulting, but they somewhat calmed down after LeBell went on to win his division. Gene LeBell won his weight class and the overall championship in 1955 as well. In a recent conversation with Bob Calhoun, the coauthor of LeBells autobiography The Godfather of Grappling, the judoka, then 87 years old, said he was surprised that Lee didnt try to counter me, so I think he was more surprised than anything else. In the years that followed, Lee worked with LeBell to incorporate grappling into his films, defeating Sammo Hung with an arm bar in Enter the Dragon and Chuck Norriswho would become another long-time collaborator of LeBellsvia chokehold in Way of the Dragon. August 10, 2022 1:24pm. 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 . However, Tarantino disputes this claim. The belt was immediately seized from the shocked Gene, which in later years would cause him to comment, Well, at least I was the champ for 12 seconds and I retired as champion. (Gene LeBell Biography), Gene went on to fight numerous opponents over the years including practitioners from other fighting arts that scoffed at Genes prowess, however they learned the hard way that Genes superb grappling skills were the real deal. According to Lambert, Seagal explained to LeBell that he did not believe his choke hold was effective, and that he could escape from it. 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). Ronda Rousey, Bryan Danielson, and many more idolized the . He was known by many as the "Godfather of Grappling," and influenced fighters around the world. 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. August 18 | 2022. blackbeltmag.com. LeBell!!! 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. 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. Along the way, his list of big-name collaborators, students, and opponents became as packed as his CV; in addition to Lee, . Ed Lewis. All my love and respect Pat Romano, Ya ya Uncle Gene , to one of the Gilberts favorite people . Rick Seaman, Well Geno, they said it couldnt be done but youve done it again. He was born in Los Angeles, California. He is the greatest!! Why Gene LeBell's Life Is Like A Movie - TWM+: Sports, Entertainment 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. Few will live a life as extraordinary as Gene LeBell has. Still working on the Pro Wrestling Finishing Holds book techniques to this day! G-E-N-E Capital-L-E-Capital-B-E-L-L. . [7] Despite his pedigree, he did not get over immediately with audiences but gradually became known for his martial arts background. Bottles, chairs, and other debris were thrown into the ring. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him, especially us. Congratulations Uncle Gene! 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. To quote C.S. 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. Youre not only a legend to me but a great, great friend. [10], The loss by Savage, the hometown favorite, caused the crowd to react violently. (Gene LeBell Biography), LeBell transitioned from amateur to AAU national judo champ in 1954 and catapulted to national attention but as a pro wrestler, playing Hank the Hangman; he made a living by losing every match. A pair of red shorts were mixed into the laundry that contained his Gi and turned the uniform a shade of pink.