On August 7, 2004, the World Martial Arts Masters Association promoted him to 10th degree. Afterwards, attracted by better potential earnings and the family's legacy in the business, LeBell transitioned to professional wrestling. [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). I have grown up idolizing many of the SU members over the yearsGenes massive career and list of credits is insane. An additional stipulation prevented LeBell from attempting tackles or takedowns under the waist. It must be said at this stage that . 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. [20], LeBell is associated with Gokor Chivichyan's Hayastan MMA Academy where he taught grappling classes. Gregg Smrz, So well deserved! So happy for you. A video shown at the memorial featured many of his accomplishments from the stunt and martial arts world, evoking smiles, laughter and tears that had many in the crowd wiping their eyes. The fun motorcycle rides we used to go on out at the Pig Farm and at your mountain house. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG). 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. 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. Gene LeBell's net worth is estimated to be approximately $6 million dollars. Well deserved !!! According to the Hollywood Reporter, famed stunt performer Gene LeBell died on August 9 at the age of 89. Jim Winburn, Long time coming Papa Gene. I feel honored to say Ive never been choked out by the legend Gene LaBellI consider you a true friend. "I learned the [LeBell Lock] from a guy named Neil Melanson," Danielson told the WWE website in 2010. He was 89. As wellback in the day..i drove out to ride motos with Gene & some friends at his area in Frazier Park. Black Belt EXCLUSIVE. 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 . It has been alleged that at some point LeBell heard about the claim and gave Seagal the opportunity to prove it. The combatants were initially cautious, with LeBell being the first in pressing the action by attempting to throw Savage down. Gene LeBell, the colorful judo champion, wrestler and stuntman who trained Bruce Lee, fought Elvis Presley and John Wayne in the movies and was an inspiration for Brad Pitt's character in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, has died.He was 89. [12] Finally, he performed a left harai goshi in the fourth round and followed by locking a rear naked choke. And Thank You for all those Decals and Patches you sent Charlotte and I each Christmas. Savanah Dawn Lilley, The one and only Uncle Gene! A industry standard, and great human being! LeBell served as the referee for the exhibition match between world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki on June 26, 1976, at . whose residence contained hours of phone recordings, was acquitted on a murder charge but convicted and sentenced to probation as an accessory, Bryan Danielson Is the Best Hes Ever Been According to Bryan Danielson, Jon Joness Last Stand, Wembys Ceiling, Jokic Backlash, and UFOs With Ariel Helwani and Chuck Klosterman. 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. [29], LeBell was arrested, charged with, and tried for the July 1976 murder of private investigator Robert Duke Hall. Tanner Gill, Congrats Uncle Gene!! His notable students include Rousey, WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper, and Chuck Norris, among others. If I have seen further it has been by standing on the shoulders of giants like you!! Nicknamed "The Godfather of Grappling", he popularized grappling in professional fighting circles, serving as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts. Here's an attempt to share some of those posts and tweets from the cross . LeBell earned the upset win via an osaekomi. LeBell!!! He was born there on November 27, 1940, making him a dual Hong Kong and United States citizen by birth. After, my arms were trembling with strain, you told me to stop and smiled at me, and said kid, dont quit your day job. 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.. 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. LeBell has worked on over 1000 TV Show and Film projects. [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. 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. As soon as he landed, LeBell used a foot sweep to sweep Seagal off the floor, with Seagal landing on his back. Will Bowman, Well deserved! [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. Brandon Recor, Congratulations!!! 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. (James C. Udel, Variety, 2018), The remarkable Judo Gene LeBell was still teaching grappling and doing stunts well into his 80s. 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. One thing I learned was never never mess with Gene LeBell. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Famous wrestler, Martial artist Ivan Gene LeBell better known as Gene LeBell, passes away at 89. So may you rest in power, Gene.. "My name is Gene LeBell. Hardcover - January 1, 2004. !Thanks for the memories!! Love, Greg & Barbie Barnett, Youve been my hero my entire career. 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. Are the Lakers dead? Ed Lewis. With a background in judo and jiu-jitsu, LeBell was the mastermind behind some of the greatest fighters in the world. In the martial arts, he captured the National A.A.U. 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. If you want to do a whizzer throw in wrestling, its the same as an uchimata [inner thigh throw] in judo. LeBell demonstrated the choke hold by putting it on Seagal. 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. But whats the legacy of the blockbuster album? Its about time!! 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. Mike Bohn. McCarthy, veteran actress Karen Black and legendary wrestling and martial arts teacher famous for Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. He was a Nevada and California Athletic Commission judge. He is loved by so many and admired by countless others. His notable students include Rousey, WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper, and Chuck Norris, among others. So they said I could make good money in professional wrestling, which I did. (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. 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. For LeBell, one martial art naturally flowed into another; they were already mixing together in his curious mind. Billy Robinson. Enjoyed reading about Gene Lebell? Judo is wrestling with handles, he told Black Belt magazine in 1994. 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 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 . Gene has trained with numerous other world champion martial artists includingChuck Norris,Bill Wallace, andBenny Urquidez. A lot of fighters are broke. LeBell judged fights for several decades, but retired from it after Golden Boy Promotions: Liddell vs. Ortiz 3 on November 24, 2018. 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. Ronda Rousey, Bryan Danielson, and many more idolized the . 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. After an illustrious judo career, Gene tried his hand at professional wrestling, and actually won the heavyweight title in Amarillo, Texas.

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