Gene LeBell
Encyclopedia
Ivan Gene LeBell is a former American
Judo
champion, instructor, stunt performer
, stunt coordinator
, and professional wrestler born in Los Angeles, California
. LeBell has worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows, and has authored a number of books.
In 2000, he was promoted to 9th Dan in US Ju-Jitsu and US Taiho-Jutsu by the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF). In 2002, Gene LeBell was promoted to 10th Degree in Judo by Jon Bluming
in Holland. On August 7, 2004 LeBell was promoted to 10th Degree by the World Martial Arts Masters Association. In February 2005, he was promoted to 9th Dan in Traditional Kodokan Judo
by the USJJF.
National Judo
Championships (both heavyweight and overall) both in 1954 and 1955. In 1963, LeBell accepted a public challenge to fight boxer Milo Savage (rated number 5 in the world by Ring Magazine many years earlier but unable to obtain work even as a sparring partner at the end of his career) in Salt Lake City, Utah. Competing as a "judo/karate" fighter, LeBell defeated Savage - choking him unconscious in the 4th round. In June 1976, LeBell refereed the infamous boxing-versus-MMA contest between Muhammad Ali
and Antonio Inoki
in Tokyo, Japan. LeBell was selected over 200 other applicants to referee that bout. Following his combat sports career, LeBell, along with his brother Mike, ran the National Wrestling Alliance
's Los Angeles
territory, NWA Hollywood Wrestling from 1968 to 1982.
On December 2, 1963 in Salt Lake City, Utah
LeBell participated in the first televised mixed martial arts
fights in the United States. The fight featured LeBell facing former top ranked middleweight boxer Milo Savage in what was dubbed a “Boxer vs. Judo-Karate Black Belt” challenge match. The bout came about after a writer named Jim Beck made a challenge to any judoka that if they could defeat a boxer he would award them $1000 of his own money. The match was set for five three minute rounds. The rules allowed Savage to use any type of punching techniques of his choosing and LeBell could use any judo or karate techniques with the exception of kicks. Savage was allowed to wear a pair of special speed bag gloves with his fingers not covered (similar to today’s modern MMA
gloves) and a karate gi top and boxing shorts. LeBell would wear his judogi
and belt. The fight lasted four rounds until LeBell executed a left sided harai goshi
on Savage followed by a Maka-komi (landing on his opponent) and then choking him out. Within seconds Savage was unconscious with LeBell being declared the winner. With Savage, being the hometown favorite, losing the crowd began to throw bottles, other debris and chairs into the ring. To prevent a full blown riot hometown hero and rated professional boxer Jay Fullmer (brother of boxers Gene Fullmer
and Don Fullmer
) entered the ring to congratulate LeBell and avert a riot.
LeBell is held in high regard by fans of combat sports, who affectionately refer to him as "Judo" Gene LeBell. He is also commonly known as "the Godfather of Grappling" and also as "the toughest man alive". He has taught grappling skills to many well-known wrestlers and martial artists, including "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
, Karo Parisyan
, Mando Guerrero
, Chuck Norris
, Benny "The Jet" Urquidez
, Gokor Chivichyan
, Bob Wall
, Ed Parker
and Manny Gamburyan.
Along with the awards he has received for his feats in Judo and grappling, he received the 2005 Frank Gotch
Award to celebrate the positive recognition he has brought to the sport of wrestling. The award was presented by the Cauliflower Alley Club. On March 18, 1995 he was awarded the Cauliflower Alley Club's "Iron Mike Mazurki" award; awarded by one of his teachers, the great professional wrestling champion Lou Thesz.
On March 23, 1991 Gene LeBell was awareed the Honorary "Reel" Membership by the Ring of Friendship of the Cauliflower Alley Club. This is award that is only given to a select few. Other awardees have been James Cagney
, Kirk Douglas
, Karl Malden
, Cesar Romero
, Mickey Rooney
, and Sylvester Stallone
(movie stars that also did boxing and wrestling).
LeBell is associated with Gokor Chivichyan
's Hayastan MMA Academy where he teaches MMA
/grappling classes. Gene keeps himself busy doing interviews for magazines, newspapers, and radio as well as judging fights, and doing movie stunts for well over 50 years. Gene has a son named David LeBell.
LeBell's mother was the influential boxing promoter, Aileen Eaton
, who is the first, and currently only, female member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
.
started using LeBell's Omoplata Crossface as his trademark finishing submission, calling it the "LeBell Lock."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
champion, instructor, stunt performer
Stunt performer
A stuntman, or daredevil is someone who performs dangerous stunts, often as a career.These stunts are sometimes rigged so that they look dangerous while still having safety mechanisms, but often they are as dangerous as they appear to be...
, stunt coordinator
Stunt coordinator
A stunt coordinator, usually an experienced stunt performer, is hired by a TV, film or theatre director or production company to arrange the casting and performance of stunts for a film, television programme or a live audience...
, and professional wrestler born in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. LeBell has worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows, and has authored a number of books.
In 2000, he was promoted to 9th Dan in US Ju-Jitsu and US Taiho-Jutsu by the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF). In 2002, Gene LeBell was promoted to 10th Degree in Judo by Jon Bluming
Jon Bluming
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSas5UGbfWewSi8q5DfzywF065UUqhGmIWUOksP4AOhttp://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSas5UGbfWewSi8q5DfzywF065UUqhGmIWUOksP4AOhttp://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSas5UGbfWewSi8q5DfzywF065UUqhGmIWUOksP4AO...
in Holland. On August 7, 2004 LeBell was promoted to 10th Degree by the World Martial Arts Masters Association. In February 2005, he was promoted to 9th Dan in Traditional Kodokan Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
by the USJJF.
Combat sports career
Competing in the heavyweight at only 165 pounds, LeBell won the AAUAmateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
National Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
Championships (both heavyweight and overall) both in 1954 and 1955. In 1963, LeBell accepted a public challenge to fight boxer Milo Savage (rated number 5 in the world by Ring Magazine many years earlier but unable to obtain work even as a sparring partner at the end of his career) in Salt Lake City, Utah. Competing as a "judo/karate" fighter, LeBell defeated Savage - choking him unconscious in the 4th round. In June 1976, LeBell refereed the infamous boxing-versus-MMA contest between Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
and Antonio Inoki
Antonio Inoki
is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides between New York City and Tokyo. He was also the founder and former owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling before selling his controlling share in the promotion to Yukes...
in Tokyo, Japan. LeBell was selected over 200 other applicants to referee that bout. Following his combat sports career, LeBell, along with his brother Mike, ran the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
's Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
territory, NWA Hollywood Wrestling from 1968 to 1982.
On December 2, 1963 in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
LeBell participated in the first televised mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
fights in the United States. The fight featured LeBell facing former top ranked middleweight boxer Milo Savage in what was dubbed a “Boxer vs. Judo-Karate Black Belt” challenge match. The bout came about after a writer named Jim Beck made a challenge to any judoka that if they could defeat a boxer he would award them $1000 of his own money. The match was set for five three minute rounds. The rules allowed Savage to use any type of punching techniques of his choosing and LeBell could use any judo or karate techniques with the exception of kicks. Savage was allowed to wear a pair of special speed bag gloves with his fingers not covered (similar to today’s modern MMA
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
gloves) and a karate gi top and boxing shorts. LeBell would wear his judogi
Judogi
Judogi is the formal Japanese name for the traditional uniform used for Judo practice and competition. It is actually derived from traditional articles of Japanese clothing. Jigoro Kano derived the original judogi from the kimono and other Japanese garments around the turn of the 20th century, and...
and belt. The fight lasted four rounds until LeBell executed a left sided harai goshi
Harai Goshi
is one of the original 40 throws of Judo as developed by Kano Jigoro. It belongs to the second group of the traditional throwing list in the Gokyo no waza of the Kodokan Judo....
on Savage followed by a Maka-komi (landing on his opponent) and then choking him out. Within seconds Savage was unconscious with LeBell being declared the winner. With Savage, being the hometown favorite, losing the crowd began to throw bottles, other debris and chairs into the ring. To prevent a full blown riot hometown hero and rated professional boxer Jay Fullmer (brother of boxers Gene Fullmer
Gene Fullmer
Gene Fullmer is a former American middleweight boxer and world champion.-Professional career:Fullmer began his professional career in 1951 and won his first 29 fights, 19 by knockout...
and Don Fullmer
Don Fullmer
Don Fullmer is a former boxer and brother of former world middleweight champion Gene Fullmer.Eight years younger than his more famous brother, Don followed Gene into the gym in West Jordan, Utah, to learn how to box. He fought as an amateur for four years and did not lose in sixty-five fights...
) entered the ring to congratulate LeBell and avert a riot.
LeBell is held in high regard by fans of combat sports, who affectionately refer to him as "Judo" Gene LeBell. He is also commonly known as "the Godfather of Grappling" and also as "the toughest man alive". He has taught grappling skills to many well-known wrestlers and martial artists, including "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
Roddy Piper
Roderick George Toombs , better known by his ring name "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, is a Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler and film actor who is currently signed to WWE. In professional wrestling, he is best known for his work with WWE...
, Karo Parisyan
Karo Parisyan
Karapet Parisyan is an Armenian-American mixed martial artist. From his days as a UFC mainstay Karo holds notable wins over Ryo Chonan, Shonie Carter, Drew Fickett, Matt Serra, Nick Thompson, Chris Lytle, Nick Diaz and Antonio McKee.- Early life:...
, Mando Guerrero
Mando Guerrero
Armando Guerrero Llanes , better known as Mando Guerrero, is a retired professional wrestler. He also was the trainer for the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, an all female professional wrestling promotion.-Movie stuntman career:...
, Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris
Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris is an American martial artist and actor. After serving in the United States Air Force, he began his rise to fame as a martial artist and has since founded his own school, Chun Kuk Do...
, Benny "The Jet" Urquidez
Benny Urquidez
Benny Urquidez is an American kickboxer, martial arts choreographer and actor. Nicknamed, The Jet, Urquidez was a non-contact karate competitor who later pioneered full-contact fighting in the U.S. He made the transition from point to full-contact karate in 1974 – the year of its inception...
, Gokor Chivichyan
Gokor Chivichyan
Gokor Chivichyan is an Armenian Judo, submission grappling, and mixed martial arts instructor. Gokor currently trains professional and amateur fighters at the Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood. Chivichyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia....
, Bob Wall
Bob Wall
Robert Wall may refer to:*Bob Wall , former secretary and director of Arsenal Football Club*Bob Wall , Canadian ice hockey player*Bob Wall , the guitarist of Christian rock band Love Song...
, Ed Parker
Ed Parker
Edmund Kealoha "Ed" Parker was an American martial artist, promoter, teacher, and author.-Life:Parker was born in Hawaii, and raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He began his training in the martial arts at a young age in judo and later boxing...
and Manny Gamburyan.
Along with the awards he has received for his feats in Judo and grappling, he received the 2005 Frank Gotch
Frank Gotch
Frank Alvin Gotch was an American professional wrestler of German ancestry, the first American to win the world heavyweight free-style championship, and credited for popularizing professional wrestling in the United States...
Award to celebrate the positive recognition he has brought to the sport of wrestling. The award was presented by the Cauliflower Alley Club. On March 18, 1995 he was awarded the Cauliflower Alley Club's "Iron Mike Mazurki" award; awarded by one of his teachers, the great professional wrestling champion Lou Thesz.
On March 23, 1991 Gene LeBell was awareed the Honorary "Reel" Membership by the Ring of Friendship of the Cauliflower Alley Club. This is award that is only given to a select few. Other awardees have been James Cagney
James Cagney
James Francis Cagney, Jr. was an American actor, first on stage, then in film, where he had his greatest impact. Although he won acclaim and major awards for a wide variety of performances, he is best remembered for playing "tough guys." In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him eighth...
, Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas is an American stage and film actor, film producer and author. His popular films include Out of the Past , Champion , Ace in the Hole , The Bad and the Beautiful , Lust for Life , Paths of Glory , Gunfight at the O.K...
, Karl Malden
Karl Malden
Karl Malden was an American actor. In a career that spanned more than seven decades, he performed in such classic films as A Streetcar Named Desire, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, On the Waterfront and One-Eyed Jacks...
, Cesar Romero
Cesar Romero
Cesar Julio Romero, Jr. was an American film and television actor who was active in film, radio, and television for almost sixty years...
, Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney is an American film actor and entertainer whose film, television, and stage appearances span nearly his entire lifetime. He has won multiple awards, including an Honorary Academy Award, a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award...
, and Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
(movie stars that also did boxing and wrestling).
LeBell is associated with Gokor Chivichyan
Gokor Chivichyan
Gokor Chivichyan is an Armenian Judo, submission grappling, and mixed martial arts instructor. Gokor currently trains professional and amateur fighters at the Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood. Chivichyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia....
's Hayastan MMA Academy where he teaches MMA
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
/grappling classes. Gene keeps himself busy doing interviews for magazines, newspapers, and radio as well as judging fights, and doing movie stunts for well over 50 years. Gene has a son named David LeBell.
LeBell's mother was the influential boxing promoter, Aileen Eaton
Aileen Eaton
Aileen Eaton was a boxing promoter who was influential in the United States' west coast's boxing scene for five decades. Eaton was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She attended Los Angeles High School....
, who is the first, and currently only, female member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
.
The pink gi
The pink colored Judo Gi that has become a trademark of LeBell was a result of a laundry mixup while preparing for a competition in Japan. A pair of red shorts were mixed into the laundry that contained his Gi and turned the uniform a shade of pink. 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. This set the Japanese crowd livid (it was considered very insulting). LeBell went on to win his division.Television and film
LeBell has worked on over 1,000 films, TV shows and commercials as a stuntman or stunt co-ordinator, and as an actor (including multiple appearances as himself.) LeBell appeared in three Elvis Presley movies as a minor character who starts a fight with the character played by Presley.Other references
In the fall of 2010, WWE wrestler Daniel BryanDaniel Bryan
Colonel Dan Bryan was an officer in the Irish Army and head of G2 during World War II, known in neutral Ireland as "The Emergency"....
started using LeBell's Omoplata Crossface as his trademark finishing submission, calling it the "LeBell Lock."
Works
LeBell has authored at least twelve books, including:- The Handbook of Judo: An Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide to Winning Sport Judo by Gene LeBell and Lauri C. Coughran. 1962, 1963, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1996.
- Your Personal Handbook of Self-defense by Gene LeBell. 1964, 1976.
- Judo and Self-defense for the Young Adult by Gene LeBell. 1971.
- Pro-Wrestling Finishing Holds by "Judo" Gene LeBell. 1985, 1990.
- Grappling Master: Combat for Street Defense and Competition by Gene LeBell. 1992.
- Gene LeBell's Handbook of Self-Defense by Gene LeBell. 1996.
- Gene LeBell - The Grappling Club Master by Gene LeBell, Ben Springer, and Steve Kim. 1999.
- Grappling and Self-Defense for the Young Adult by Gene LeBell and Bob Ryder. 2002.
- How to Break Into Pro Wrestling: "Judo" Gene LeBell's Insider Guide to the Biz by Gene Lebell and Mark Jacobs. 2003.
- Gene LeBell's Grappling World: The Encyclopedia of Finishing Holds by Gene LeBell. 1998, 2000(2nd expanded edition), 2005(3rd edition).
- The Godfather of Grappling (authorised biography of LeBell) by "Judo" Gene LeBell, Bob Calhoun, George Foon, and Noelle Kim. 2005.
Judo
- Amateur Athletic UnionAmateur Athletic UnionThe Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
- AAU National Judo Championship (1954)
- AAU National Judo Championship (1955)
Professional wrestling
- Cauliflower Alley ClubCauliflower Alley ClubThe Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America....
- Iron Mike Mazurki Award (1995)
- Central States WrestlingHeart of America Sports AttractionsHeart of America Sports Attractions, also known as the Midwest Wrestling Association, Central States Wrestling and the World Wrestling Alliance, was an American professional wrestling promotion that ran shows mainly in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa...
- NWA Central States Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Central States Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship a professional wrestling championship that currently serves as the main title for the National Wrestling Alliance promotion, NWA Midwest. For most of its existence, however, the title was defended in the NWA affiliate Central States Wrestling from...
(1 time)
- National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA Hall of FameNWA Hall of FameThe National Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame is an American professional wrestling hall of fame maintained by the NWA. It was established in 2005 to honor select wrestling personalities, mostly alumni of the NWA. Inductees receive commemorative medals that have their names inscribed on it with the...
(Class of 2011)
- NWA Hollywood WrestlingNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA Americas Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Americas Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Americas Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team title in the National Wrestling Alliance's NWA Hollywood Wrestling based out of Los Angeles, California....
(1 time) – with Chino Chou
- NWA Mid-Pacific PromotionsNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA Hawaii Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Hawaii Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance and is defended in the US state of Hawaii. The title, which is still currently defended, began in1935...
(1 time)
- NWA Western States SportsNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Amarillo version)NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Amarillo version)The Amarillo version of the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship was a top singles title in the National Wrestling Alliance's Amarillo, Texas territory, NWA Western States Sports...
(1 time)
- George Tragos / Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Frank Gotch Award (2005)
Further reading
- The Godfather of Grappling (authorised biography of LeBell) by "Judo" Gene LeBell, Bob Calhoun, George Foon, and Noelle Kim. 2005. (According to Gene LeBell's website, an earlier draft of this book was published without permission under the name The Toughest Man Alive by Fiaz Rafiq, and legal action is pending for breach of copyright.)
External links
- USMAF Biography
- http://www.urartuproductions.com - The HyeFighters Show featuring Gene Lebell and Gokor Chivichyan