Gene LeBell (Judo) has passed away at the age 89.. He was an important figure in martial arts and entertainment.
LeBell’s longtime friend Bas Rutten first revealed the news on Facebook.
“The great Gene Lebell, toughest man I know, has passed away and left us at the age of 89,” Rutten wrote. His lovely wife Midge and his children, as well as all of his family and friends, my deepest sympathies.
” You will be missed Gene. I miss you dearly, my friend. !”
A larger than life influence to many fighters and professional wrestlers, LeBell got his start in martial arts when he was just 7 years old when he started learning catch wrestling under Ed “Strangler” Lewis before transitioning to judo where he became a black belt training both in the United States and Japan.
LeBell became well-known for his exploits within the Judo World. He tried his hand at professional wrestling, but eventually he returned to Martial Arts when he faced Milo Savage (a mixed-rules fight in 1963.).
LeBell won with a fourth-round rear-naked choke.
From there LeBell became a promoter of pro-wrestling for many years, running the NWA territory over 14. In 1976., he was also the referee for the famous mixed-rules match between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki.
LeBell began acting and stuntman in many television and film productions. He befriended Bruce Lee on the set of his series The Green Hornet and LeBell’s initial interactions with him served as part of the inspiration for a character in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon a Time … In Hollywood.
Of course, LeBell never took a step away from teaching and training martial arts where he worked with a number of high profile athletes over the years including a close relationship forged with UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey as well as names such as Karo Parisyan and Manny Gamburyan.
He also worked with many notable celebrities such as Chuck Norris, while training pro-wrestlers like “Rowdy”, Roddy Piper.
LeBell also was a regular at many MMA events, where he served until 2018. as a judge.
