LeBell established himself as a martial artist long before he moved to Hollywood. 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. 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. "[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. Its about time!! For a time, he took on a role as "policeman" for the organization, helping to maintain order. One day in. Its an honor to be your student and friend. 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. Gene LeBell in 2010 and with Lindsay Wagner on 'The Bionic Woman' in 1976 GI. Judo is wrestling with handles, he told Black Belt magazine in 1994. Ronda Rousey, Bryan Danielson, and many more idolized the . Mahalo Christopher Chabriel, Congratulations MEAN GENE!!! While working at the stunt coordinator for Seagal's film Out for Justice, the two of them met to test Seagal's statement. The Toughest Man Alive. He is a two time AAU National Judo Champion and he was a professional wrestling world heavyweight champion . The program featured several other martial artists including Graciela Casilas, Karen Sheperd, Victor Ledbetter, Steve Sanders, brothers Benny and Reuben Urquidez, and Dave Vaden. Judo Gene LeBell was famous for his catch wrestling technique that later became an influence in both pro wrestling and mixed martial arts. 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. Nick Plantico, Congrats Gene!! 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. We cant have blood! Gaffer tape stanched the bleeding, and LeBell managed six more takes. LeBell has also worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows and has authored 12 books. Nicknamed "The Godfather of Grappling", he popularized grappling in professional fighting circles, serving as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts. [12] Finally, he performed a left harai goshi in the fourth round and followed by locking a rear naked choke. Ill be there to shake your hand tomorrow. 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. LeBell was never a main-event star in wrestling and by even the most generous assessment wasnt exactly a crowd-pleaser in the ring. He won the Amateur Athletic Union National Judo Championships in 1954 and 1955 when he was 22, according to Black Belt Magazine. After his mother remarried, LeBell was raised near L.A.s old Olympic Auditorium. The loss by the hometown boxer nearly caused a riot to breakout and despite the promotions attempt to calm the violence, Gene LeBell was nearly stabbed on the way out of the venue. The grappling club master . 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. 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. Judo Gene LeBell the Godfather of Grappling was both a renowned ex-world champion in both wrestling/judo, and one of Hollywoods busiest stuntmen. 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). Cheers! In the martial arts, he captured the National A.A.U. Jimmy Roberts, Gene youve always told me Im the best but your THE GREATEST Love ya, Manny Perry, I owe everything to Gene. Some of his most famous students were, Ronda Rousey, Sugar Ray Robinson,. But whats the legacy of the blockbuster album? 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. He is the greatest!! (James C. Udel, Variety, 2018), A fight scene on the sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet earned LeBell his SAG card. LeBell has made himself the nicknames "Judo" Gene LeBell, "The Godfather of Grappling" and also "The Toughest Man Alive" for his . He worked on over 1,000 movies and wrote a dozen books. J.N. You are a true living legend! Its great having such a role model to look up to. LeBells roots in combat sports ran deep. Even more appreciated by those of us choked out by you !!! 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. They knew each other and worked together on the Green Hornet. 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. Craig Hosking, Congratulations Gene you are a legend! We couldnt prouder. Gene LeBell would ultimately choke his opponent unconscious after a tentative start to the match. 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 . Seagal, a towering man who had a background in the Japanese martial art of aikido, has long battled with stunt choreographers and fight trainers on setin Shooters, Jonathan Snowden quotes Pride announcer Stephen Quadross story of engaging in an uncomfortable series of wristlock exchanges with Seagal on the set of the 2001 film Exit Woundsbut by most accounts (and there are many), his encounter with LeBell went poorly. Here's an attempt to share some of those posts and tweets from the cross . Osu J.J. Perry, Gene, Ill never forget the time on set, when you let me try and choke you out. [20], LeBell also appeared in "The World of Martial Arts Budojujitsu". August 10, 2022 1:24pm. Gene, I appreciate the things youve accomplished in life, and acknowledge your generosity to those you have helped to achieve theirs. 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 was 89 years old. Known by many as "the Godfather of Grappling", LeBell helped make the grappling arts like Judo, Wrestling, and Jiu Jitsu popular in professional fighting circles. He is the author of 12 martial arts books. You truly are a one-off, a living legend. How Do We Solve This Crisis? I have ridden on the back of his bike for one of his marathon wheelies.Pine Mtn Club so much fun. 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. LeBell judged fights for several decades, but retired from it after Golden Boy Promotions: Liddell vs. Ortiz 3 on November 24, 2018. (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. Is MJF the Second Coming of CM Punk? Steve Boyum, Absolutely couldnt go to a better candidate. ", "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. . It must be said at this stage that . "The great Gene Lebell, toughest man I know, has passed away and left us at the age of 89," Rutten wrote. Jim Winburn, Long time coming Papa Gene. Gene LeBell talks about Bruce Lee. (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. Are the Lakers dead? 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. The Savage camp claimed they did not know the difference. Gary Goltz. Tanner Gill, Congrats Uncle Gene!! On Sunday, Oct. 9, legendary martial artist and stuntman Judo Gene LeBell would have turned 90. Besides being a boxer, Milo Savage also had a background in wrestling. An incredible life being rightfully recognized. 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 . LeBell died in his sleep early Tuesday morning at his home in Sherman Oaks, his trustee and business manager, Kellie Cunningham, told The Hollywood Reporter. So, congratulation Gene LeBell from the Winburn families for receiving the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award. Hardcover - January 1, 2004. So happy for you. [9], The match took place on December 2, 1963. The late 'Judo' Gene LeBell's 90th birthday is celebrated by 200 friends, students, family LeBell's top student, Gokor Chivichyan, held the event at his martial arts academy, remembering a . Professional wrestler Bas Rutten announced LeBell's death via Facebook, writing, "You will be greatly missed Gene, Well deserved !!! Heffay Cadiente, Big congrats Uncle Gene! Whether through his chokes or his jokes, Gene LeBell has been an inspiration for more people than he will ever realize. Gene LeBell had three children including stuntman son David LeBell and FBI . Gene LeBell heard about the proclamation and decided to take Seagal up on the challenge. (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. [9], Encouraged by Ed Parker,[8] LeBell accepted the challenge and travelled to Salt Lake City to meet Beck.