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Sammy Horowitz, Congratulations Gene, its about time you were acknowledged for your amazing contribution to the stunt world. 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. Congratulations Gene. judo. Roddy Piper. Gene LeBell was born on October 09, 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States, is Stunts, Actor, Miscellaneous Crew. Gene LeBell Did It All 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. Gene is survived by his wife Midge, his children Monica and David; stepchildren Danny and Stacey; and grandchildren Daniel, Tyler and Nicholas. Stoked I get to make it this year. I love you. The fun motorcycle rides we used to go on out at the Pig Farm and at your mountain house. 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. In December 1939, his parents went to Chinatown, San Francisco in California for an international opera tour. [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. [21] He was quoted as saying: "When we had a little altercation or difference of opinion, there were thirty stuntmen and cameramen that were watching. Gene Lebell, who had an acting and stunt career that stretched from The Adventures of Ozzie . Wrestlers & MMA stars pay tribute to Gene LeBell. Freddy Bouceigues, No one deserves this more then you uncle Gene. Love ya Gene. 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. 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. There is no one alive on this planet that deserves this Life Time Achievement Award more than you. [8] Gene also wrestled under a black mask as The Hangman, teaming up with Roy Staggs. J.N. [29], LeBell was arrested, charged with, and tried for the July 1976 murder of private investigator Robert Duke Hall. Outside of the fight game, LeBell worked in film & television, appearing in multiple Elvis Presley movies and working on The Green Hornet TV series, where he struck up a friendship with Bruce Lee. (James C. Udel, Variety, 2018), The remarkable Judo Gene LeBell was still teaching grappling and doing stunts well into his 80s. [9], The match took place on December 2, 1963. We couldnt prouder. Gene LeBell began his martial arts training at the age of 13 and went on to become the Godfather of Grappling and is considered by many to be the father of MMA. 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. He repeated this dominant performance in 1955, winning all but one of his 18 matches solely with standing throws. Its about time!! This is very much deserved. [27] He also did interviews for magazines, newspapers, and radio. An additional stipulation prevented LeBell from attempting tackles or takedowns under the waist. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him, especially us. [20], LeBell also appeared in "The World of Martial Arts Budojujitsu". A tribute to the late martial artist, stuntman, actor and pro wrestler Gene LeBell. [7] Despite his pedigree, he did not get over immediately with audiences but gradually became known for his martial arts background. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. He won the Amateur Athletic Union National Judo Championships in 1954 and 1955 when he was 22, according to Black Belt Magazine. 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). 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. Chuck & Charlotte Waters, Special man and amazing human being, so deserving of this recognition. You truly are a one-off, a living legend. A pair of red shorts were mixed into the laundry that contained his Gi and turned the uniform a shade of pink. 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. Gene LeBell is a legend in the world of MMA and Martial Arts. 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. On the day of the match, Savage appeared wearing a karategi instead, much tighter and harder to grab. One thing I learned was never never mess with Gene LeBell. Although LeBell would remain undefeated in the sport for eight years, even traveling to Japan in 1955 to further his judo skillsand, following a laundry mishap, adopt the pink gi that became a signature piece of his in-ring lookhis interests were too varied to allow him to focus exclusively on one sport. And Thank You for all those Decals and Patches you sent Charlotte and I each Christmas. [8], After returning to the United States, LeBell competed as a heavyweight. Hollywood stuntman and martial artist Gene LeBell has died. A brief google of you name brings up pages and pages of awesome stories about what youve really accomplished in so many fields. He had spent time in Japan training at the Kodokan. Ivan "Judo" Gene LeBell (October 9, 1932 - August 9, 2022) was an American martial artist, stunt performer, actor, and professional wrestler. As wellback in the day..i drove out to ride motos with Gene & some friends at his area in Frazier Park. "My . While men like Wagner and later Freddie Blassie and Dick the Destroyer Beyer would headline Eatons wrestling cards, the young LeBellbereft of a father figurestarted at the very bottom, learning the ropes in the hardest away imaginable, twisted into pretzels by grapplers like the aging Evan Strangler Lewis, from whom LeBell asked to learn the Stranglers signature headlock when LeBell was the tender age of 7. Thank you, Mr. LeBell! [2] He worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows and authored 12 books. He is currently 89 years old. I love you Gene and I am very proud of your accomplishments in our business. Scott Wilder, Thank you Sensei for paving the way for martial artists in this biz! Bob Debbie Hennessey, Congrats Gene. You are an inspiration!! He was known by many as the "Godfather of Grappling," and influenced fighters around the world. He was a man that no endeavor was too tall for him to accomplish, Josh Barnett said of LeBell. LeBells top student, Gokor Chivichyan, hosted the event at his martial arts academy to celebrate the life of his mentor and close friend. How Do We Solve This Crisis? After an illustrious judo career, Gene tried his hand at professional wrestling, and actually won the heavyweight title in Amarillo, Texas. 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. Along the way, he trained scores of future greats in a variety of disciplines, from Rowdy Roddy Piper in wrestling to Rowdy Ronda Rousey in judo (she, too, eventually wound up in the wrestling business), and even managed to extricate himself from being convicted in the 1976 murder of a private detective who had been digging up dirt on a host of California notables. Are the Lakers dead? Instead of being hit first, it was LeBell who would put Bruce Lee in a headlock and carry him around the set. The boxer blocked the move, which aggravated an old shoulder injury of LeBell. An incredible life being rightfully recognized. Is MJF the Second Coming of CM Punk? 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. [7] In 1954 and 1955, while only 22 years of age, he captured both the heavyweight and overall Amateur Athletic Union National Judo Championships. His notable students include Rousey, WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper, and Chuck Norris, among others. Gene LeBell has three children Monica, Danny, and David. Its great having such a role model to look up to. In the the Quentin Tarantino film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood", Bruce Lee was made to look as an arrogant martial arts actor. Long overdue! The Bahamas Wrestling Association: Black Wrestling and the Birth of a Nation. Over the course of this six-decade career, LeBell had a hand in training many prominent players in the entertainment, wrestling, and MMA worlds. He deserves this award. LeBell!!! LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Famous wrestler, Martial artist Ivan Gene LeBell better known as Gene LeBell, passes away at 89. By the time he transitioned to judo in the early 1950s, LeBell had already spent untold hours in submission holds and on the receiving end of punches from boxers like the great Sugar Ray Robinson at L.A.s famous Main Street Gym. LeBell accompanied Ronda Rousey to the cage for some of her MMA matches in recent years, and served as a MMA judge through 2018. 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!!! Well done sir! He was a Nevada and California Athletic Commission judge. The Creed Franchise Has Stepped Out of Rockys Shadow at Last, With Sylvester Stallone removed from the equation, Creed III is the sternest test yet of Adonis Creeds appealand a new challenge for first-time director Michael B. Jordan, The Clock Is Already Ticking for Kyrie Irving and the Mavs, Dallas now has a costar alongside Luka Doncic but has precious little time to make it all work. 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. August 10, 2022 1:24pm. Martial Art: Take a wild guess.Notable Achievements: "Judo" Gene LeBell has arguably the most impressive MMA resume of anyone on this list, and (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. Bryan Danielson's LeBell Lock was named after the legendary grappler. [6], Ivan Gene LeBell was born in Los Angeles, California. [9], Encouraged by Ed Parker,[8] LeBell accepted the challenge and travelled to Salt Lake City to meet Beck. 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. 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.. Gene taught my three sons how to take every day life in the training under Gene. As soon as he landed, LeBell used a foot sweep to sweep Seagal off the floor, with Seagal landing on his back. LeBell is back in the limelight on the 50th anniversary of what's considered the first notable mixed martial arts fight in the United States, even though the term wasn't used: His Dec. 2, 1963 . This scene is loosely based on world class Judoka Gene LeBell . 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. In June of 1976, LeBell served as the referee during the infamous boxing versus wrestling match between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki in Japan. 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 Pat Romano, Ya ya Uncle Gene , to one of the Gilberts favorite people . We love him! Along the way, his list of big-name collaborators, students, and opponents became as packed as his CV; in addition to Lee, . Bottles, chairs, and other debris were thrown into the ring. LeBell was never a main-event star in wrestling and by even the most generous assessment wasnt exactly a crowd-pleaser in the ring. Hamstrung by rules barring takedowns, strikes on the ground, and submission holds, the fight devolved into a tedious 15-round affair in which Ali taunted and showboated while Inoki crab-walked along the mat, kicking Alis legs. Love you brother congratulations! (Gene LeBell Biography). The program featured several other martial artists including Graciela Casilas, Karen Sheperd, Victor Ledbetter, Steve Sanders, brothers Benny and Reuben Urquidez, and Dave Vaden. And later on, there is discussion of whether or not double-dipping is an acceptable way to eat! To prevent a full-blown riot, hometown hero and rated professional boxer Jay Fullmer (brother of boxers Gene and Don Fullmer) entered the ring to congratulate LeBell. #246C,Beverly, MA 01915,United States. Congrats Rick Avery, Congratulations Uncle Gene! Will Bowman, Well deserved! The Cauliflower Alley Club presented the award. He would also occasionally wrestle in a disguise as The Hangman. Stunt coordinator Bennie Dobbins begged LeBell to humble Lee, who allegedly beat up on his stuntmen throughout the shows production. [2] He was born in Los Angeles. LeBell would win the match osaekomi where the practitioner pins the opponent for a specified amount of time earning the victory. [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. God bless. I thought I was the only one. Seems like yesterday, lifes crazy like that, huh? 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). 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. He is loved by so many and admired by countless others. David Burton, Congrats Gene LeBell great job well done Grover Gay, Congrats Gene LeBell! LeBell judged fights for several decades, but retired from it after Golden Boy Promotions: Liddell vs. Ortiz 3 on November 24, 2018. LeBell passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, just two months shy of being a nonagenarian. 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. 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. LeBell also worked on over 1,000 movies and TV shows [1] and authored 12 books. Joseph Davis, Gene is truly a genuine Good person and a great friend. You always tried to get me to go dirt biking with you but I never gave in. Norman Howell, Congratulations Gene LeBell an incredible Honor an so well deserved. In 2000, the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) promoted him to 9th Dan in jujitsu and taihojutsu. A half-century ago, Pink Floyd unleashed a classic that still lingers on the Billboard charts and in college dorms to this day. 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. '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. Allen Lopa, Congrats to a legend!! Proud to be your friend! After getting his black belt, he went to Japan to train in judo at the Kodokan. [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. LeBell has worked on over 1000 TV Show and Film projects. Ill never forget that moment, congratulations brother. Best to You Gene !! Since Hayastan MMA Academy first opened its door, it has been one of the top gyms in the world. Gene LeBell was born on October 9, 1932. He also had 8 grandchildren. Well deserved my friend, and sensei! LeBell earned the upset win via an osaekomi. He is the author of 12 martial arts books. [31], On August 9, 2022, LeBell died in his sleep.[32][33]. Nicknamed "The Godfather of Grappling", he popularized grappling in professional fighting circles, serving as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts. [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. LeBell was also a judo and grappling prodigy. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), Bas Rutten, Gokor Chivichyan, Paul Lazenby and Josh Barnett during a celebration of life for Judo Gene LeBell on what would have been his 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. 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. But whats the legacy of the blockbuster album? In February 2005, the USJJF made him 9th dan in judo. if thirty people are watching, let them talk about it. May we all continue to learn from you and strive to reach the heights youve reached. At four months old (April 1941), the Lee family returned to Hong Kong. August 10, 2022 1:24pm. Confidential (1997) Batman & Robin (1997), Rush Hour (1998), The Man on the Moon (1999) Men in Black II (2002), Spiderman 2 (2004), Starsky & Hutch (2004), Over his career, LeBell was bludgeoned, shot, run over, karate-chopped (he became friends with Bruce Lee) and drowned for $2,000 per week earning more than most lawyers during those days. Neil Melanson is an American submission grappling coach. Ronda Rousey. He has trained several notable students including Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Ronda Rousey. Ivan Gene LeBell (October 9, 1932 - August 9, 2022) was an American martial artist, instructor, stunt performer, and professional wrestler. Jim Winburn, Long time coming Papa Gene. After his mother remarried, LeBell was raised near L.A.s old Olympic Auditorium. 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..