It has been alleged that at some point LeBell heard about the claim and gave Seagal the opportunity to prove it. Plus, Nadine Smith on the Agendas Behind Wrestling Documentaries. 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. It was a fascinating collection of people mourning too, from the world of pro wrestling, mixed martial arts, acting, and beyond. Freddy Bouceigues, No one deserves this more then you uncle Gene. Judo Gene!!! 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. Gene has trained with numerous other world champion martial artists includingChuck Norris,Bill Wallace, andBenny Urquidez. LeBell even awarded Piper a legitimate Black Belt in Judo . [citation needed], While serving as stunt coordinator for the film Out for Justice, starring Steven Seagal, Seagal stated that due to his aikido training he was 'immune' to being choked unconscious. 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? Ian Avabe, You Rock a Master of all well deserved Si PJ Hooper Kelly, Congratulations Gene. Ross Clay, Gene is the most unselfish and most giving person I know. 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. Well deserved.- Bonnie Happy, Well deserved. thank you so much for all the encouragement over all these decades . In February 2005, the USJJF made him 9th dan in judo. Chuck & Charlotte Waters, Special man and amazing human being, so deserving of this recognition. According to a 2014 interview in Black Belt, LeBell had no idea the fight would be as significant as later developments in the sport of MMA have made it. As soon as he landed, LeBell used a foot sweep to sweep Seagal off the floor, with Seagal landing on his back. God Bless you Gene and your lovely wife and thanks you for all the things you taught me. His second best fight was probably his back and forth battle with 80's and 90's martial arts action star Steven Seagal. Mike Bohn. [5], LeBell has been reported as the inspiration for the character of Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Love ya Gene. Proud to be your friend! 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. [20], LeBell is associated with Gokor Chivichyan's Hayastan MMA Academy where he taught grappling classes. Gene LeBell had three children including stuntman son David LeBell and FBI . For most of Eatons time in the business, she was the only major female fight promoter in the United States, possibly even the world. Well deserved my friend, and sensei! And in February, 2005 Gene LeBell was promoted to 9th degree black belt in judo by USJJF. He was a Nevada and California Athletic Commission judge. 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). Please enter a valid email and try again. 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. I made very good money, and it led me into a career in stunt work.. 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. 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 repeated this dominant performance in 1955, winning all but one of his 18 matches solely with standing throws. Mary Karcz, Hi Gene, Id just like to Congratulate you on your receiving the Taurus Lifetime Achievement Award. Stoked I get to make it this year. 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 . You don't earn the nickname 'Judo' without knowing a thing or two about combat; just ask Steven Seagal. Part of HuffPost Entertainment. Little Mo and Lou, Uncle Gene has been a trusted mentor, ardent Sensei and dear friend to me and countless other stunt people throughout the years. Oliver Lee Bateman is a journalist and sports historian who lives in Pittsburgh. You are a true living legend! LeBells years of stunt work and fight choreography also introduced grappling to the world of action movies, where it is now commonplace to see fighters turned actors such as Randy Couture and Gina Carano using submission holds in their action sequences. 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. 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. Bruce Lee. He is highly respected by many martial artists all over the world, and has . Gene LeBell is a legend in the world of MMA and Martial Arts. Stunt coordinator Bennie Dobbins begged LeBell to humble Lee, who allegedly beat up on his stuntmen throughout the shows production. He was born in Los Angeles, California. Gene, I appreciate the things youve accomplished in life, and acknowledge your generosity to those you have helped to achieve theirs. [9], The match took place on December 2, 1963. 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. He had spent time in Japan training at the Kodokan. Craig Frosty Silva, Gene LeBell What can anybody tell you about Gene LeBell? However, the writing was on the wall for Savage: LeBell threw and then mounted the boxer in the second round, although he couldnt secure a finish, then hip-tossed him in the fourth round before using a gi choke to render his foe unconsciousmuch to the displeasure of the crowd, which was unused to seeing people choked in this way. (James C. Udel, Variety, 2018). 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. Your culture and entertainment cheat-sheet. Previously, he was married to Eleanor Martindale between 1975 and 1976, Eileen Murillo (1960), Olga Allen between 1957 until 1959, and Midge LeBell before that. He was also a Nevada and California Athletic Commission judge, including judging UFC 74 (Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga) and his website judogene.com is visited by martial arts and film fans all over the globe. G-E-N-E Capital-L-E-Capital-B-E-L-L. . Gene LeBell has had a number of notable students throughout the years, from Hollywood legends like Chuck Norris and Roddy Pipper, to martial arts masters such as Gokor Chivichyan, Karo Parisyan, Ronda Rousey, Neil Melanson, Ed Parker and Benny "The Jet" Urquidez to name a few. 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 . Gene LeBell was born on October 09, 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States, is Stunts, Actor, Miscellaneous Crew. Alan Oliney, Hey Gene, Thanks for being a four-star mentor to so many and thanks for being Gene Lebell. Gary Davis, So awesome!!! 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). And Thank You for all those Decals and Patches you sent Charlotte and I each Christmas. Well deserved my hat is off to you sir!!! Tanner Gill, Congrats Uncle Gene!! "My . Gene LeBell, also known as 'Judo Gene LeBell' is best known for, you guessed it, judo. Gene's funeral will be private for immediate family only. "LeBell parlayed his pain-inducing skills into careers in martial arts, professional wrestling and Hollywood stunt work, making him the ultimate a**-kicking Renaissance man. 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. The belt was immediately seized from the shocked Gene, which in later years would cause him to comment, Well, at least I was the champ for 12 seconds and I retired as champion. (Gene LeBell Biography), Gene went on to fight numerous opponents over the years including practitioners from other fighting arts that scoffed at Genes prowess, however they learned the hard way that Genes superb grappling skills were the real deal. Gene LeBell heard about the proclamation and decided to take Seagal up on the challenge. [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. On Sunday, Oct. 9, legendary martial artist and stuntman Judo Gene LeBell would have turned 90. 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. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. You have definitely earned it for all your contributions to the industry. At four months old (April 1941), the Lee family returned to Hong Kong. The godfather of modern grappling and a legitimate tough guy in his own right, LeBell. I love you. Ill never forget that moment, congratulations brother. 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. One thing I learned was never never mess with Gene LeBell.