As a stuntman, LeBell reportedly endured a punch from John Wayne for the 1952 film Big Jim McLain and a kick in the face from Elvis Presley for Blue Hawaii in 1961. According to the Hollywood Reporter, famed stunt performer Gene LeBell died on August 9 at the age of 89. 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. People gather to celebrate the life of Judo Gene LeBell on what would have been his 90th birthday at Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood Sunday, October 9, 2022. Never ever have I known a man so talented, having so much wisdom and experience, so giving of his knowledge and skills and yet being so humble. 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. Im honored to know you! Answer (1 of 12): Well It seems to be a bit of a controversy about this. He was known by many as the "Godfather of Grappling," and influenced fighters around the world. 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. Are the Lakers dead? After his mother remarried, LeBell was raised near L.A.s old Olympic Auditorium. Genes feature film appearances include Blue Hawaii (1965), Planet of the Apes (1968), Raging Bull (1980), Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985), Bad Guys (1986), Hard to Kill (1990), Die Hard 2 (1990), Patriot Games (1992), Ed Wood (1994), L.A. Gene taught my three sons how to take every day life in the training under Gene. 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. Freddie Blassie. [30], LeBell and Ginsburgs were former friends and business partners of Hall. 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. On August 7, 2004, the World Martial Arts Masters Association promoted him to 10th degree. Interview with Gene LeBell - Kung-fu Kingdom The toughest man alive by Gene LeBell . Influential combat sports icon "Judo" Gene LeBell has died at 89. Congratulations Gene. I feel honored to say Ive never been choked out by the legend Gene LaBellI consider you a true friend. 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.
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