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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. The toughest man alive by Gene LeBell . [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. Karl Gotch. In addition to spending extensive time in the world of . 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. 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. Anil Rai, Congratulations Mr. Ronda Rousey. Present-day UFC fans probably best remember him from his time spent wielding a stopwatch in the corner of his protege, Ronda Rousey, while wrestling fans might know his name from when Daniel Bryan used to call his finisher the LeBell Lock. But despite that, the MMA pioneer isnt a household name, which is a shame, because if youre a fan of combat sports, he absolutely should be. The award couldnt be given to a better or greater person, that trained many motion pictures stuntmen in and out of the motion picture Industry. 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.. However, Tarantino disputes this claim. With only one uniform in his luggage, he wore the pink gi in Japan, and beat the competition. Ronda Rousey, Bryan Danielson, and many more idolized the . He will always be my Stunt Senei. I am so glad I was there Live to see it ! It hurt. The loss by the hometown boxer nearly caused a riot to breakout and despite the promotions attempt to calm the violence, Gene LeBell was nearly stabbed on the way out of the venue. Few will live a life as extraordinary as Gene LeBell has. The Hollywood Reporter: Gene LeBell, Famed Stuntman and Godfather of Grappling, Dies at 89, Deadline: Gene LeBell Dies: Stuntman, Actor And Wrestling Legend Who Fought Bruce Lee & Chuck Norris Onscreen Was 89, MMA Fighting: Toughest man I know: Pros react to pioneer Judo Gene LeBells death, The Huffington Post: Gene LeBell, Famed Stuntman, Martial Artist And Bruce Lees Teacher Dies At 89. 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. In the martial arts, he captured the National A.A.U. Along the way, his list of big-name collaborators, students, and opponents became as packed as his CV; in addition to Lee, . FLASH SALE - Buy 1 video get 40% OFF - COUPON40, Buy 2 videos get 43% OFF - COUPON43, Buy 3 or more videos get 45% OFF - COUPON45. 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 . [29], LeBell was arrested, charged with, and tried for the July 1976 murder of private investigator Robert Duke Hall. [9], Encouraged by Ed Parker,[8] LeBell accepted the challenge and travelled to Salt Lake City to meet Beck. LeBell authored at least twelve books, including: On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. At Hayastan MMA Academy, the focus is to teach our students a variety of Martial Art disciplines - We specialize in Judo, Sambo, Wrestling, Gi and No Gi Grappling, Boxing, Kickboxing and MMA. 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. I have always been inspired by this quality in you Uncle Gene and I cherish the memories of the many great experiences we have had together. LeBell's students included AnnMaria De Mars, the first American to ever win a gold medal at the World Judo Championships in 1984, and De Mars' daughter, Ronda Rousey, who became the first. BJJ Fanatics was started by a pair of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts who know that nothing is more important for a fellow fanatic than their time on the mat. Craig Hosking, Congratulations Gene you are a legend! He was born there on November 27, 1940, making him a dual Hong Kong and United States citizen by birth. 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The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1 Deep Dive, The Biggest Questions About the Seasons Stretch Run, KDs Suns Debut, Load Management, and Five-Year Anniversary of the Rockets-Clippers Tunnel Debacle. Gene LeBell is a legend in the world of MMA and Martial Arts. Congratulations & we all love you. 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. 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. 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. There is no one alive on this planet that deserves this Life Time Achievement Award more than you. Hey Gene which way to the Beach? Nicknamed "The Godfather of Grappling", he popularized grappling in professional fighting circles, serving as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts. Well deserved !!! He is the greatest!! Congrats my friend and God Bless. Its about time!! Gene LeBell has three children Monica, Danny, and David. Those are just some of the names that Gene LeBell has trained with, not to mention the countless other celebrities and luminaries hes worked alongside during his decades-long careers as a pioneering mixed martial artist, a professional wrestler, and a stuntman. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), Former UFC Champion and WWE star Ronda Rousey talks about her friend and mentor Judo Gene LeBell during a celebration of his life on what would have been his 90th birthday at Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood Sunday, October 9, 2022. 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. It is with a heavy heart that we recognize our past member and friend, Mr. Gene LeBell, has passed on. [12] Finally, he performed a left harai goshi in the fourth round and followed by locking a rear naked choke. she was the only major female fight promoter in the United States, who was said to be terrorizing the stuntman for a particular scene, background in the Japanese martial art of aikido. On Sunday, Oct. 9, legendary martial artist and stuntman "Judo" Gene LeBell would have turned 90. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him, especially us. A pioneer of martial arts, he lived a long and fascinating life. Roddy Piper. 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. 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. August 18 | 2022. blackbeltmag.com. Sat 9th Apr 2022 19.30 BST. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Not long after, he began training judo. He won the Amateur Athletic Union National Judo Championships in 1954 and 1955 when he was 22, according to Black Belt Magazine. LeBell was the third man inside the ring of one of the most famous matches in Japanese history and one that had worldwide attention. Lance Gilbert, Gene , you are surely deserving of this achievement even though your humility wont allow you to agree with us. 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. Jimmy Halty, Congratulations Gene. In December 1939, his parents went to Chinatown, San Francisco in California for an international opera tour. Mr. LeBell died on Aug. 9 at his home in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Famous wrestler, Martial artist Ivan Gene LeBell better known as Gene LeBell, passes away at 89. 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. Many modern-day MMA fans recognize LeBell as the one who is present in many of Rousey's early games, coaching her on. In 1994, LeBell counted kickboxing champion Benny Urquidez and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners the Machado brothers among his training partners. 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. One day in. 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. Mickey Gilbert, Ill never forget working with Gene in Minneapolis for David Ellis. Sometimes Steven has a tendency to cheese off the wrong people, and you can get hurt doing that. Congratulations my brother!!! Since Hayastan MMA Academy first opened its door, it has been one of the top gyms in the world. An additional stipulation prevented LeBell from attempting tackles or takedowns under the waist. Lou Thesz. 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He went on to win the both the Heavyweight and overall champion title 1955 as well. Alan Oliney, Hey Gene, Thanks for being a four-star mentor to so many and thanks for being Gene Lebell. I have grown up idolizing many of the SU members over the yearsGenes massive career and list of credits is insane. (James C. Udel, Variety, 2018), The remarkable Judo Gene LeBell was still teaching grappling and doing stunts well into his 80s. A brief google of you name brings up pages and pages of awesome stories about what youve really accomplished in so many fields. You have given so much to our community and film business! In 1954, at the age of 20, Gene won the National Heavyweight Judo Championshi and the USA Overall Judo championship title. This scene is loosely based on world class Judoka Gene LeBell . So happy for you. Its great having such a role model to look up to. [31], On August 9, 2022, LeBell died in his sleep.[32][33]. 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. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), Former UFC Champion and WWE star Ronda Rousey talks with Midge LeBell wife of Judo Gene LeBell during a celebration of his life on what would have been Genes 90th birthday at Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood Sunday, October 9, 2022. 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). Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic both had 40-point games after the Sixers loss against the Mavs. I love you Gene and I am very proud of your accomplishments in our business. Mike Massa, Congratulations Gene!! A lot of fighters are broke. 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. He was set to compete the following day and being a Saturday evening when he received the now colored uniform, he had to compete in the pink uniform. You have definitely earned it for all your contributions to the industry. Wear this Award well my friend. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. [7], LeBell was requested to confirm the story publicly in an interview with Ariel Helwani in 2012, but he avoided answering the question, albeit implying that the incident was true. The Alabama passer is one of the smallest QB prospects to be pegged as a first-round pick. 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. Along with many others, speakers included Ronda Rousey, former UFC champion, WWE professional wrestler, actress and Olympic Judo medalist; Bas Rutten, former UFC Heavyweight Champion and a three-time King of Pancrase world champion; catch wrestler, former UFC Heavyweight Champion, former Openweight King of Pancrase world champion, and Bellator fighter; and AnnMaria De Mars, first American to win a gold medal at the World Judo Championships. He is highly respected by many martial artists all over the world, and has . Big hug and a kiss! Even more appreciated by those of us choked out by you !!! Whether through his chokes or his jokes, Gene LeBell has been an inspiration for more people than he will ever realize. LeBells roots in combat sports ran deep. Gene LeBell's net worth is estimated to be approximately $6 million dollars. In the stunt world, I get a pretty doggone good retirement from SAG and AFTRAand I can still work.. 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. He also had 8 grandchildren. Love ya Gene. At 12 LeBell took up judo. Love, Greg & Barbie Barnett, Youve been my hero my entire career. To his surprise, he learned his opponent would not be Beck but a higher regarded boxer, Milo Savage, who also had a background in amateur wrestling. It has been alleged that at some point LeBell heard about the claim and gave Seagal the opportunity to prove it. Answer (1 of 12): Well It seems to be a bit of a controversy about this. LeBell is also a writer and has penned a dozen books on martial arts. He taught me how to fight, taught me how to ride. It was in her promotion that a Texas-born grappler named George Wagner first donned an elaborate robe, dyed his hair blond, walked to the ring with a valet, and became the 1950s television sensation Gorgeous George, the toast of the coast.. You are an inspiration!! Gene Lebell, who had an acting and stunt career that stretched from The Adventures of Ozzie . LeBell's conviction for being an accessory was later overturned by the California Courts of Appeal. 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. His very first match was against John Osako, one of the highest ranked judokas at the national level. 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.