Tanner Gill, Congrats Uncle Gene!! 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. Weve worked together for over (50) years and its been (50) years of pure delight. (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. 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. Gene LeBell was chosen for the match out of over 200 candidates. The back and forth match between the boxer and the grappler/judoka was an early precursor to the mixed martial arts battles that millions of fans enjoy today. An agreement was reached for the match to last five rounds, each lasting three minutes. 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. Savanah Dawn Lilley, The one and only Uncle Gene! A industry standard, and great human being! Stoked I get to make it this year. 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 . 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. Being 63 years old, LeBell declined to compete or to send a representative, instead suggesting a match against Royce's 82-year-old father, the renowned Hlio Gracie. 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. You can follow him on Twitter (@MoustacheClubUS) and read more of his work at www.oliverbateman.com. [2] He worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows and authored 12 books. Gene LeBell was promoted to 9th degree in jujitsu and taihojutsu in 2000 by the United States Ju-Jitsu (USJJF) Ju Jitsu Federation. Are the Lakers dead? (James C. Udel, Variety, 2018). Hardcover - January 1, 2004. [7][8] In return, Savage offered to wear a judogi. Gene LeBell was born on October 9, 1932. LeBell recalled in his 2005 autobiography, The Godfather of Grappling meeting Lee on the set of The Green Hornet TV series. Bottles, chairs, and other debris were thrown into the ring. It was a fascinating collection of people mourning too, from the world of pro wrestling, mixed martial arts, acting, and beyond. 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. J.N. 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. 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. Bruce Lee's father Lee Hoi-chuen was a famous Cantonese opera singer based in Hong Kong. This 1982 homevideo production, introduced by Chuck Norris and narrated by John Saxon, featured LeBell as a car thief and mugger who (in the prologue) accosts Mitsuru Yamashita and Budojujitsu creator Al Thomasmuch to LeBell's regret. judo. Gene LeBell would ultimately choke his opponent unconscious after a tentative start to the match. 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. 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. 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 . This scene is loosely based on world class Judoka Gene LeBell . 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. For similar uses, see, MMA History Gene Lebell VS Milo Savage, 1963, The Godfather of Grappling (authorised biography of LeBell) by "Judo" Gene LeBell, Bob Calhoun, George Foon, and Noelle Kim. thank you so much for all the encouragement over all these decades . From TV shows like Mission: Impossible, Batman, and Reno 911! to movies including, The Towering Inferno, RoboCop, Total Recall and Independence Day, LeBell was a go-to stunt coordinator for decades. 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. He taught me how to fight, taught me how to ride. Despite his martial arts credentials, LeBell did not immediately connect with wrestling audiences. [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. When he arrived, Gene LeBell learned that he would not be fighting Beck, but instead a much more well-known boxer in Milo Savage. Chuck & Charlotte Waters, Special man and amazing human being, so deserving of this recognition. It was the long-running Lassie series that first tested LeBells mettle. Ill never forget that moment, congratulations brother. 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). LeBells roots in combat sports ran deep. Congratulations Gene Eric Norris, Gene LeBell is my hero and always has been. Still working on the Pro Wrestling Finishing Holds book techniques to this day! LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Famous wrestler, Martial artist Ivan Gene LeBell better known as Gene LeBell, passes away at 89. 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. [7] LeBell took up catch wrestling under Ed "Strangler" Lewis at age 7, and later moved to train in judo. [31], On August 9, 2022, LeBell died in his sleep.[32][33]. Gene LeBell in 2010 and with Lindsay Wagner on 'The Bionic Woman' in 1976 GI. Gene's funeral will be private for immediate family only. Michael Nesbitt, Congratulations, judo Gene LeBell Tony Epperson, Congratulations! The damage inflicted definitely favored Inoki, who battered Alis legs sufficiently that the Greatest struggled with his mobility in a fight against Ken Norton later that year, but LeBellwho had Inoki slightly ahead on his own scorecard, per the account in journalist Josh Grosss book Ali vs. Inoki: The Forgotten Fight That Inspired Mixed Martial Arts and Launched Sports Entertainmentchose to deduct points for an illegal groin strike, thus affording Ali a split-decision draw that showcased how dull MMA could get without the appropriate rules in place. RIP Gene LeBell - Part II. After winning amateur national competitions in judo, LeBell decided to make the switch to pro wrestling as it offered more lucrative earnings. Bryan Danielson's LeBell Lock was named after the legendary grappler. 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. "I learned the [LeBell Lock] from a guy named Neil Melanson," Danielson told the WWE website in 2010. His students in those fields included Roddy Piper, Ronda Rousey, and many others. We are all so proud of you, youre a legend. Proud to be your friend! It was agreed that the match would last five 3 three minute rounds. He had spent time in Japan training at the Kodokan. The fun motorcycle rides we used to go on out at the Pig Farm and at your mountain house. American judoka and martial arts instructor (19322022), "The Hangman (wrestler)" redirects here. 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. Instructed through brutal tutorials by professional wrestlers and old-school masters, he developed adult skills by 13. The athletic youngster tested himself with such self-imposed challenges as scaling 60-foot-high lighting stanchions to replace spent bulbs. In June of 1976, LeBell served as the referee during the infamous boxing versus wrestling match between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki in Japan. Ivan Gene LeBell (born October 9, 1932) is an American martial artist, instructor, stunt performer, and professional wrestler born in Los Angeles, California. More embellished versions include details about Seagal defecating himself. As a lifelong student of what we have come to call combat sports, still living and teaching at age 87, LeBell has become one of the world's experts. The simplest version of the tale has Seagal boasting that he couldnt be choked out, and LeBell, then in his 50s and significantly smaller than the 6-foot-4 actor, going behind the star, then taking him to the ground and choking him out. You too? 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. LeBell has worked on over 1000 TV Show and Film projects. Whats different about the Sixers this year? Without locking the hold, Seagal side stepped and swung his forearm backwards into his crotch. 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. The toughest man alive by Gene LeBell . It hurt. 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. Billy Robinson. Lance Gilbert, Gene , you are surely deserving of this achievement even though your humility wont allow you to agree with us. This award is only given to a select few. Michael Hughes, Thank you for being such an influence and inspiration to MANY! In the stunt world, I get a pretty doggone good retirement from SAG and AFTRAand I can still work.. Derek spoke with Matthew Biel of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital about rising teenage unhappiness and what we can do to fix it, All You Touch and All You See: Dark Side of the Moon at 50. I wont say rest easy because we just dont see that happening with Gene. #246C,Beverly, MA 01915,United States. Gene Lebell, who had an acting and stunt career that stretched from The Adventures of Ozzie . God Bless you Gene and your lovely wife and thanks you for all the things you taught me. 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. [10], The loss by Savage, the hometown favorite, caused the crowd to react violently. [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. You always tried to get me to go dirt biking with you but I never gave in. 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. 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. Well deserved my hat is off to you sir!!! With a background in judo and jiu-jitsu, LeBell was the mastermind behind some of the greatest fighters in the world. Some have pointed out that LeBell making easy work of Lee on set may have inspired the scene in Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in which Brad Pitt, playing veteran stuntman Cliff Booth, has his way with Bruce Lee (played by actor and martial artist Mike Moh) in an on-set sparring match. For a time, he took on a role as "policeman" for the organization, helping to maintain order. Jimmy Roberts, Gene youve always told me Im the best but your THE GREATEST Love ya, Manny Perry, I owe everything to Gene. 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. Freddy Bouceigues, No one deserves this more then you uncle Gene. LeBell has made himself the nicknames "Judo" Gene LeBell, "The Godfather of Grappling" and also "The Toughest Man Alive" for his . His career bore that out. 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. [26], The pink colored judo gi became a trademark of LeBell and was a result of a laundry mixup while preparing for a competition in Japan. [3][4], In 2000, the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) promoted LeBell to 9th dan in jujitsu and taihojutsu. Most of his notoriety came after the release of his biggest film, Enter the Dragon, that same year. Congratulations brother Gene!!! Part of HuffPost Entertainment. A tribute to the late martial artist, stuntman, actor and pro wrestler Gene LeBell. Enjoyed reading about Gene Lebell?