It was LeBells first movieland lesson: Always let the star win. I love you. Gene Lebell, who had an acting and stunt career that stretched from The Adventures of Ozzie . Our aim is to create a shop for BJJ Students who don't look at Jiu-Jitsu as a sport - but a lifestyle. Sandra Brumfield Avo, Gene is as it has been said amongst the fight world..is the Toughest Man. You always tried to get me to go dirt biking with you but I never gave in. 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. 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. All my love and respect Pat Romano, Ya ya Uncle Gene , to one of the Gilberts favorite people . Without locking the hold, Seagal side stepped and swung his forearm backwards into his crotch. You don't earn the nickname 'Judo' without knowing a thing or two about combat; just ask Steven Seagal. Ill be there to shake your hand tomorrow. On the day of the match, Savage appeared wearing a karategi instead, much tighter and harder to grab. You have definitely earned it for all your contributions to the industry. So may you rest in power, Gene.. He started training in catch wrestling and boxing from his early childhood, influenced by his mother, "Red Head" Aileen Eaton, a promoter of both sports who owned the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Despite his martial arts credentials, LeBell did not immediately connect with wrestling audiences. It couldnt go to a better man. [10][11] Nevertheless, LeBell got mount and found the opportunity to execute an armbar, but he opted instead to seek a choke, concluding that Savage would not surrender to a broken arm. Thank you for all you have done for those of us blessed to learn from you. We are incredibly sad to report that our hero, dear friend and Stunts Unlimited brother passed away yesterday, August 9th, 2022 at the age of 89. 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. To quote C.S. Professional wrestler Bas Rutten announced LeBell's death via Facebook, writing, "You will be greatly missed Gene, 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. When he arrived, Gene LeBell learned that he would not be fighting Beck, but instead a much more well-known boxer in Milo Savage. Gene LeBell has three children Monica, Danny, and David. 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. He will always be my Stunt Senei. [30], LeBell and Ginsburgs were former friends and business partners of Hall. 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. [9], The match took place on December 2, 1963. LeBell has made himself the nicknames "Judo" Gene LeBell, "The Godfather of Grappling" and also "The Toughest Man Alive" for his . Proud to know you, much love Brent Fletcher, Very proud to have been your student for so many years There is no one prettier than you Sensai You are truly a legend and I can not think of anyone more deserving for this award!!! Almost everyone present to honor him wore a Gene LeBell tee-shirt, and his widow Midge sported a sweater covered in patches that LeBell made over the years to give out to fans for souvenirs. He would also occasionally wrestle in a disguise as The Hangman. [3][4], In 2000, the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) promoted LeBell to 9th dan in jujitsu and taihojutsu. Plus, Nadine Smith on the Agendas Behind Wrestling Documentaries. Roberts, Nobody in the world more respected!! On Sunday, Oct. 9, legendary martial artist and stuntman Judo Gene LeBell would have turned 90. LeBell was never a main-event star in wrestling and by even the most generous assessment wasnt exactly a crowd-pleaser in the ring. (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. Its about time. In any case, LeBell was back to work in the movies almost immediately, adding to the movie residuals and Screen Actors Guildbacked retirement that sustained him in his later years. Karl Gotch. Gene LeBell had thousands of students over the years. LeBell, preferring to let others do the talking for him, told MMA journalist Ariel Helwani in 2012 that if thirty people are watching, let them talk about it.. Heffay Cadiente, Big congrats Uncle Gene! 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. Neil Melanson With respect, Missy OMalley-Reynolds, Uncle Gene, Thanks for never burning our house down. Bryan Danielson's LeBell Lock was named after the legendary grappler. I have grown up idolizing many of the SU members over the yearsGenes massive career and list of credits is insane. This is very much deserved. (James C. Udel, Variety, 2018), The remarkable Judo Gene LeBell was still teaching grappling and doing stunts well into his 80s. He is the author of 12 martial arts books. Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic both had 40-point games after the Sixers loss against the Mavs. Stoked I get to make it this year. G-E-N-E Capital-L-E-Capital-B-E-L-L. . May we all continue to learn from you and strive to reach the heights youve reached. Jimmy Halty, Congratulations Gene. 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. A true legend with a legacy of amazing stunt history. In addition to spending extensive time in the world of . LeBell, who spent much of his later years overseeing the National Wrestling Alliance in Los Angeles, was even charged with murder when private investigator Robert Duke Hall was killed in 1976. Contents Roddy Piper Talks MMA and Judo Gene LeBell He went on to win the both the Heavyweight and overall champion title 1955 as well. The Savage camp claimed they did not know the difference. Here's an attempt to share some of those posts and tweets from the cross . Ronda Rousey, Bryan Danielson, and many more idolized the . It hurt. . He deserves this award. Even more appreciated by those of us choked out by you !!! Chuck Norris. While working with rising martial arts star Bruce Lee on the set of The Green Hornet, LeBell was instructed by the stunt coordinator to subdue the actorwho was said to be terrorizing the stuntman for a particular sceneand did so by quickly grabbing Lee in a firemans carry and running around the set with him. Grand Master Gi Grappling by Gokor Chivichyan. Born in Los Angeles in 1932, LeBell was shipped off to a military. 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. Love, Greg & Barbie Barnett, Youve been my hero my entire career. Congrats my friend and God Bless. Ron DeSantis presidential prospects, Taft football coach Jeff Kearin steps down in support of school faculty member, Baram and Tioumentsev win World Junior title hours after their coach, Todd Sand, suffers heart attack, Snow collapses roof of Goodwin and Sons, Crestlines only grocery store, Gracie Abrams behind Good Riddance message in Los Angeles sky, Tax filing deadline moves to mid-October for most Californians, Alpine Village shopkeepers get confirmation: theyre being evicted, Ex-sheriffs deputy gets 100 hours of community service for shooting hoax, $31 million goes to San Fernando Valley light-rail line and to engage community, Who will replace ex-LA councilmember Nury Martinez? In June 1976, LeBell refereed the infamous boxing-versus-wrestling contest between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki in Tokyo, Japan. Ivan Judo Gene LeBell (October 9, 1932 August 9, 2022) was an American martial artist, stunt performer, actor, and professional wrestler. Congrats Rick Avery, Congratulations Uncle Gene! You have been a legend for over 60 years and Im honored each month that I get to see you!!!! [7][9] The unusual stipulations convinced LeBell the Savage camp, far from being ignorant about martial arts, had trained Savage in judo in order to defend against LeBell's throws. This match could be argued to be the first televised MMA match in history. Anil Rai, Congratulations Mr. The athletic youngster tested himself with such self-imposed challenges as scaling 60-foot-high lighting stanchions to replace spent bulbs. One day in. In December 1939, his parents went to Chinatown, San Francisco in California for an international opera tour. After his mother remarried, LeBell was raised near L.A.s old Olympic Auditorium. [14], LeBell has opened two martial art schools in cooperation with others and has touted his 1963 match with Milo Savage as the first televised MMA fight in America.[15][16]. I have ridden on the back of his bike for one of his marathon wheelies.Pine Mtn Club so much fun. You can follow him on Twitter (@MoustacheClubUS) and read more of his work at www.oliverbateman.com. Don't miss a beat. He believed in me which made me believe in myself. Oops. The combatants were initially cautious, with LeBell being the first in pressing the action by attempting to throw Savage down. 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. 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.
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