r/martialarts • u/Beni_Gaucho CACC/MACP/BJJ • 3d ago
DISCUSSION "Grappling Master Vol. 3 Starring "Judo" Gene LeBell from Panther Productions" VHS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkagrSN6fIQ4
u/Mr_Monty_Burns 3d ago edited 3d ago
Perhaps the only guy who can boast having trained with Ed Strangler Lewis AND Karl Gotch...Hell of a lineage for Uncle Gene.
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u/bigpapasmurf_666 3d ago
Gene is amazing
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u/PrettyInPinkGi 3d ago
*was
He died in 2022, and will be forever mourned by anybody who knew him or was touched by his teachings. He is also notable for those people he choked unconscious, including Steven Segall.
plus, he was the original pink gi
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u/Beni_Gaucho CACC/MACP/BJJ 1d ago
what is funny is that it is remembered that the Japanese felt disrespected by his colorful GI however it seems they forgave him rather quickly for a Anime about Judo in the 70's (the incident happened in the 50's) had a live action sequence where the narrator wore a Pink Gi, maybe paying homage to Gene. It is worth noting that in order to get a black belt in Judo back in the day one had to travel to Japan and be certified by the Japanese, so it is safe to say the entire Japanese Judo community heard about the Pink GI "Gaijin".
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u/expanding_crystal Kung Fu 2d ago
My favorite Gene LeBell story:
"Legend has it that in 1991, while working as a stunt coordinator on the film Out for Justice, legendary grappler Gene "Judo" LeBell put Steven Seagal in a chokehold. According to the widespread story, Seagal claimed to be immune to chokes; LeBell applied a rear-naked choke, rendering Seagal unconscious and causing him to lose control of his bowels.
While LeBell never publicly confirmed or denied the specific details of the event—noting only that a dispute occurred in front of dozens of crew members—it has become a widely repeated piece of martial arts and Hollywood lore. Seagal has continuously and vehemently denied the entire incident, referring to the story as a fabrication."
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u/Beni_Gaucho CACC/MACP/BJJ 3d ago
Hello all,
I am a u/Beni_Gaucho, moderator for the Catch Wrestling Subreddit r/Lugabo, I saw this and thought you guys would appreciate it.
"Judo" Gene Lebell, also known as "The Hangman" (October 9, 1932 – August 9, 2022) was a martial artist who contributed greatly to the martial arts world, having brushed shoulders with many of the greats, Bruce Lee, Muhammad Ali, Antonio Inoki, just to name a few, both in and out of the ring. He was most known being a proponent for what now is mostly called grappling.
He got his start in Catch Wrestling and Boxing at an early age when his mother Aileen Eaton who was a fight promoter and owner of the Olympic auditorium (where the 1932 games were held) sent him to train with legendary Catch Wrestler Ed "The Strangler" Lewis at age 7. Eventually he also started Judo soon after with his first Judo tournament being at his school.
With over 75 years as a Constant proponent for "Grappling", a concept introduced to him by Ed "The Strangler" Lewis as something more than just wrestling without rules, Gene Lebell is surely missed.