Gene LeBell Tribute Video

[IpMan19]

Anyone who likes Gene LeBell or fancies his legend should watch this video.

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[IpMan19]

I watched the full LeBell vs Savage fight in 1963.

Gene LeBell fought like a fucking pussy. And that's pretty poor against a 46yrs old boxer at the age of 30. Imagine what he would look like if that boxer was a prime time Iron Mike.

Furthermore, that was not a MMA match in 1963. The original announcement letter clearly stated it was a Judo vs Boxing. None of the fighters was a Mix Martial Artist.

And the term MMA was not spoken of before Bruce Lee's time.

[SabonninFilms]

who sings the song

[Katzenhase]

Go to "Asians on films.com-part 2-minute 1:50". Diana Lee Inosanto(daughter of Dan Inosanto who played a small role in "Out for Justice") gave an interview and a man asked her about the rumor that Seagal got choked out by LeBell. She said"there was only a verbal confrontation-that´s all".

There is the proof that Seagal hadn´t been choked out at all by LeBell. There was never a fight.

I knwe it...-just bullshit talk in order to make Seagal bad!

[chuckmansonlovesyou]

@Katzenhase Wether the story is true or not it is irrelevant in making Seagal look bad. Steven does a damn fine job of that on his own with shit like the fbi ruined my acting career when it was really everyone got tired of his shitty acting and hollywood got tired of his shitty attitude. Just look at all the stories of him being a cunt from other actors with that sheer amount of stories there has to be some amount of truth there.

[coldsoulschmidtbull]

yeah well my Dad could whip 5 gene lebells at once, I wanna see old gene do that choke against 12 guys in a bar fight lol

[MrJordybt]

@coldsoulschmidtbull I'm guessing your dad whooped 12 guys in a bar fight ?

[coldsoulschmidtbull]

@MrJordybt He sure as hell did and more than that, no rules on the street, my Dad was one crazy mean mutherfucker, he could drink a 5th of whiskey or vodka in one drink, no bullshit, lol then fools better run!!! For real though, nothing against old Gene but you wanna see some bad ass judo look up Kyuzo Mifune, his throws are amazing, and I highly doubt Gene choked out old Steve since Steve is a highly skilled martial artist who holds multiple black belts in aikido, karate, kendo, and even judo

[EmoKilla420]

@coldsoulschmidtbull Gene Lebell choked out Bruce Lee twice lol an he did choke out steven seagal that's fact. I bet your old man would get choked out 2

[coldsoulschmidtbull]

@EmoKilla420 fuck you bitch, my old man is dead, eat shit choke boy

[EmoKilla420]

@coldsoulschmidtbull LOL!!! fail I hurt your e feelings that bad :) ya mad bro? hahahahahahaha

[coldsoulschmidtbull]

@EmoKilla420 naw I aint mad lol I aint no punk though so hell yeah Im gonna defend myself, I aint got no e feelings homie , I dont get mad over lil punk ass shit

[TheShinobi32]

I have his dvd's and use to have his encyclopedia of finishing holds that shows over 400 moves there is the regualr one and the expanded version you might can find all of those at amazon.

[evol1349]

maaad props to gene..respect ..know what he did for the sport and love of judo=)

[kisser83]

I've had the chance to meet Gene LeBell twice. A Kick ass nice guy.

[Metalbob011]

Hahaha, love the end with JudoGene looking at Segal rising from behind the door.

[patfromlogan]

Gene is The Man!

[ProducerNoelle]

"Watched vid ... Just 2 set the record straight, the real story is that I wrote that song & sang it back in about 1980. Mike Vendrell did help with some of the lyrics. We wrote it as a personal tribute to Gene after he told us about his fight w/ boxer, Milo Savage. Mike & I were both young martial artists & stuntmen back then & we'd never met anyone as talented & gracious as Gene. I used G Lightfoot's "Ode to Big Blue" as a reference, adapting the melody and rewriting the words to honor Gene."

[RPenta]

@ProducerNoelle

I respect Gene LeBell but it is such a great tune it could have made a great folk song.

Did LeBell really put his foot on this guy Savage? BAAAAD sportsmanship

[brottarnacke]

@RPenta Savage was wearing an oiled gi and brass knuckles, how's that for sportsmanship?

[JBMontgomery87]

@brottarnacke That hasn't been conclusively proven, to be fair, and supposedly Savage's gear was forced on him at Beck's (the guy who had "called out" Judo in Black Belt Magazine and put up the money for the fight) insistence.

[JBMontgomery87]

@RPenta It was an accident. You can see this in the clips that some other users have put up.

[ProducerNoelle]

I have confirmation that RAND CLARE is the man who wrote & sang "The Ballad of Gene LeBell"! (Took me long enough eh?) Following is the note I rec'd from Rand from which I was able to confirm the truth of his claim.

[TheJakeJackson]

5 people still worship Stevie Seagal...

[Featureman]

I worked with Gene many times when I was a movie extra in the 1980s and 1990s. He was very nice and many people on the set would never have guessed what an awesome fighter and stuntman he was,

[bemtikru]

he kicked segal's ass once...

[TheMrAdax]

@bemtikru Wrong! Seagal asked him to choke him to seee if he could escape it. It wasn't an actual fight.

[GrimReaper30]

there is a rumor that this bad ass dude made Steve Segal shit himself when they got into a physical encounter, that Stevie started. I have no idea how true it is, but then again you never know.

[Mider999]

@GrimReaper30 Its documented that it did happen. Seagal is known for hurting people on purpose or by "accident" Lebell told him that he was oldddd so old he was at the last super but that he could chocke seagal out. He then droped seagal down and chocked him out. Seagal said I WASNT READY when he finally woke up. Gene said ok are you ready now? Seagal nodded and got droped and chocked again and this time they say he lost control of his bowels.

[uthel]

Looks like a old guy choking out people and not stopping when they are already out in Gracie stile...

I dont really know him but this video makes him look bad...

[Mider999]

@uthel They are not tapping out. He actually invites you to get CHOCKED OUT. He doesnt just grab you and do it to be a jerk. You get a patch if you get chocked out. But yeah im sure he doesnt do it on purpose. He's suppose to be a pretty nice guy

[arturchelseaful]

seagal one day said he could bruce lee even lebell said when he taught lee grapling that he was the one of the toughest man alive i would like to see lee to knock seagal out no chance that seagal could ever stop the punch of bruce lee

[TheZhongzheng]

@arturchelseaful Seagal could take em both at once

[gyusuf1994]

he trained with the bruce

[latenitefla]

My endless honor and respect for a down-to-earth hilarious ass-kicking guy. Gene LeBell!

[padawanskeptic]

I found a source for the Seagal story. It's told in a book called Blood in the Cage. Pages 48-49. It's in the foot notes.

[efsq]

whats the point of getting choked out by him??

[Mider999]

@efsq Its being chocked out by a legend I suppose. Some people go to hollywood and put there feet in the footprints in the cement. Others go to museums dedicated to there fav stars. and in the martial arts............i guess almost getting your butt kicked by Dan Inosanto, Jim Harrison and Gene Lebell is the same thing? Also he gives you a patch if you let him chocke you out.

[eagle2fla]

what's so impressive about an old man choking someone to the point of passing out? i missed something.

[sinhaserpente]

@eagle2fla There is nothing impressive in this clip so no, you are not missing something, but the old guy is "Judo" Gene LeBell and is a legend in Martial arts. A master in grappling and a Pioneer in MMA, he fought in many no holds barred (mma) fights and fought fighters of different styles. Also he became one of Bruce Lee's teachers when Bruce met him and hey, he choked out steven seagal and caused him to shit his pants so that poves what a legend he is.

[exeat5]

@sinhaserpente Where can i see the video of him choking seagal !!! HAHA

[sinhaserpente]

Unfortunately, as far as I'm aware there is no video. It was reported to have happened on the set of "out of justice". They were both working there, the story goes some people told Seagal that this old guy could choke him out. Seagal's got insulted and took it on as a challenge. Gene came over, they had a little go, Seagal got choked out. He woke up and said that Gene didn't fight fare and he wasn't ready, Gene asked him if he is ready now, again Seagal gets choke out this time he shits himself.

[sinhaserpente]

Oh, Jaiyeson already had a nice account of the incident written up.

[exeat5]

@sinhaserpente ahhhhhh too bad, i dont like seagal, in my opinion he has always been a faker, only video i see of him fighting its vs little kid,like on merv griffin show where,s he push the little kid with his baby fingers, that was so stupid anyone could do this he was pushing with his leg not his baby finger his babyfinger anyone can do that anyway haha thats a nice story, another proof of seagal being a fake, too bad he didnt want to try JCVD at stallone villa

[JeffreyJamesLippold]

He is Awesome, I wish I could have been his age when he competed, I would have loved to have seen what that was like to compete against him. Anyone have any accounts of matches with him?

[arsenalkly]

didnt he knock out steven segal , twice!

[DeathToAllReligions]

He did.

[Jaiyeson]

@arsenalkly

Yep..

He was the stunt man corridinator on one of Stevens movie sets. Someone said that old man is bad ass and can beat you up. Steven got mad.. and when introduced challenged Gene.. Gene choked him out...

lol Steven sad Gene cheated and he wasnt ready.. So Gene said are you ready now? Steven said yes.. then Gene choked him out again.. This time Steven Segal lost bowel control when knocked out and poo'ed himself. Yes this is a true story.

[tedfio1tedfio1]

Did you read Lebell's book? Once he picked Bruce Lee up over his head and walked around the dojo with Lee Swearing at him LOL...

[Jaiyeson]

@tedfio1tedfio1

lol yea that was on the set of the Green Hornet

[TheMrAdax]

@arsenalkly Wrong!!!

[DarthDefiler]

HOLY SHIT!!! 'Judo' Gene Lebell is a ginger?!

[Jaiyeson]

@DarthDefiler

Not only was he a ginger but he would wear a pink martial arts outfit so people would underestimate him... before he knocked them out lol.

[alfzonic]

@Jaiyeson

actually his wife, put his gi into the laundry machine with a pair of red shorts, that was before a fight he had in japan, and had to apologize to the japanese. but started wearing it like a cool symbol.

[FISTSLIKEBULLETS]

could Hart Sr. beat Gene ?

[kirokyukan]

@FISTSLIKEBULLETS That would have been epic!

[Viktir666]

I like Gene's seminars. One time at a seminar he choked a guy out and threw water on his dick to make the guy think he pissed himself while he was unconscious. Everyone laughed at him.

[railroadtrash09]

Judo Gene Labell a legend...

[whoisbrucewayne]

If i ever get choked out i hope i dont shit on myself.

[ProducerNoelle]

Hey all, I am one of the writers of Gene LeBell's Godfather of Grappling so I am glad you all like him so much 'cuz he's my hero. (I also shot some of the choke out footage you see in this vid.)

I am getting clarification now on the Ballad of Gene LeBell, in that Mike Vendrell may not be the sole person responsible for that song. I'll keep you posted for the sake of historical accuracy.

[blackeye240]

3 old men u should never fuck with

1 gene lebell

2 dan severn

3 buzz aldrin

[CSEgp]

quality comment.

[hohooha]

white, red, blue and black gi´s are cool but when you see man wearing pink gi that man`s probably the most dangerous man in the gym

[AlphaGenozid]

hell yeah

[DanHipp]

'cept Dan Hibiki from Street Fighter.

[tk01la08]

love this song

[userek]

why does he choke these poor people ;]

[kirokyukan]

They ask him to. I read somewhere he even gives out T shirts that read "I was choked out by Gene Lebell" or something to thaty affect.

[virlegis]

Patches for your gi is what I hear as well

[mi777ke777]

awesome video...

[Fishnwithjoe]

That's a wicked sleeper hold.

Fishnwithjoe

[huntingwolf20]

Rear naked choke, pretty much the same thing I guess. Ted Diabase was the master of the fake choke in wrestling, which was more of an arm triangle.

[elzackkk]

bjj is a copy, Japanese ftw!!!!

[tedfio1tedfio1]

You could say Mas Oyama & other Okinawan masters started JJ & Gracie brought it to Brazil and enhanced it.

[virlegis]

moron

[tedfio1tedfio1]

Whats you point idiot?

[virlegis]

The point is that you couldn't even begin to say that because it is 100% wrong. Oyama was a Kyukoshin stylist (and was korean) and had no JJ training at all. Maeda , the "forefather" of BJJ was Japanese (not Okinawan) and the art developed beyond the small amount he taught them.

JJ is Japanese - Okinawa practiced an art known as "Te"

[tedfio1tedfio1]

True; Oyama first studied Shotokan, GoJu Ryu, developed Kyuko & had a 4 Dan in Judo. I should know since I trained under his son & grandson Ted in Connecticut & N.Y.

As for JJ; my points are first, Gracie was not the founder of JJ which goes back centuries. Second, Kimura destroyed him in their fight. IMO both Kimura & LEBELL whom this video is about would have defeated Gracie & his BJJ.

[Joyceages]

@tedfio1tedfio1 maybe Helio but never someone like Rickson or any elite jiu jitsu guy around now (that is if they were practitioners back then). Not trying to disrespect LeBell or Kimura for both are legends and amazing at what they accomplished but ground game is much more technical for a BJJ guy. Even if a Judoka got the takedown it would be favorable for the BJJ to come out on top.

[paladindarknite]

@Joyceages not true!

[Joyceages]

@paladindarknite Watch Flavio Canto and Travis Stevens match at the 2010 Judo World Cup Lisbon. That is a classic example of BJJ v Judo newaza. Or check out BJ Penn against a judo black belt when he was only a white belt. I enjoy doing Judo and BJJ but through my encounters, as well as the video I've seen, it is 99% likely the BJJ guy will come out on top when it goes to the ground.

[Mider999]

@Joyceages Yeah but Lebell isnt any normal Judoka HE'S GENE LEBELL. He picked up Bruce Lee and kept him on his shoulder in a firemans carry as Lee yelled to put him down. He wouldnt untill he chilled out and Lee crawled off. He was up there for a good time too. Gene was talking to people while he did it. Lee was being a jerk so thats why it happend. They became friends afterwords and trained together.

[katadantesux]

I agree with znjfl. There are several guys at my gym that practice both Judo and BJJ. The tangible difference, sans Judo Fanboy shit talk, is that BJJ starts on the ground from a sporting perspective. Judo starts in the standing position. If you are starting in BJJ in the standing position, then you are basically going to try Judo or wrestling moves to slam your opponent to the ground. Probably more Judo because the throws allow you to set up BJJ positions easier.. IMO anyway.. Judo and BJJ FTW!

[ozfuji]

i shouldnt have said pure judo either gene would have cheated and bit helio in the face ;P

[ozfuji]

gene lebell would have beat the shit out of helio gracie, first he is much bigger, second pure bjj is flawed vs pure judo.

3rd gene is a wacky tough human just like helio, but like i said he is bigger..

[OctaviousLecter]

And you forgot the most importan thing:

BJJ is a bad copy of Judo Newaza, pure plagiarism. Judo Rules :D

[Alos21]

Judo sux ass...I choke Judokas every day hahahaha

[znjfl]

"OctaviousLecter" Shows what a true martial artist and sportsman you are......

No real Bjj master ever said that Judo sucks and to say that bjj is a bad copy of Judo Newzaza is just idiotic and retarted...Not even a brain dead moron would say that Bjj stand up is better than judo standup,and not even a brain dead moron would say that Judo groundwork is better than Bjj groundwork....but i guess you are even worse than that,or just jelaous.....

[Alos21]

hahahahahaha

ahahahahhahaa,go watch teletubbys

[hedges1]

who do you think would win in a fight if they were in there prime helio gracie or gene lebell?

[gifra09]

El sensei Lebell estrangulo a ese pobre marica de Seagal hasta que se orino... Despues Stevie lo amenaso con sus especialistas en Law-jutsu para ocultar su verguenza... Pobre Marica...

[SifuRod]

song rocked! he choked steven seagal out is what I heard from a real good source

[bigdaddy1869]

some ppl say that he beat the shit out of steven seagle...was that a fight or wut??

[TheHobophobic]

It's a fact that Steven Seagal is an asshole and rough with stuntmen. There's a rumor that on such an occasion on a set, because Gene Lebell often worked as a stuntman and coordinator that Steven Seagall said that his skill in Aikido prevented him from being choked out, and Gene Lebell challenged that claim and won. It's never been confirmed, but it's amusing to think about.

[warrior350es]

he kind of looked like James Caan in that one picture.

[brottarnacke]

@warrior350es They do have the same style a little bit.

[rage1mma]

gene Lebell is mad. I got his book on every single finishing old there is and there ae hundreds. no-one can take gene lebell

[PHILIPPakaJASON]

Incredible!

One of the toughest men on earth.

[ChangGang]

Why is everyone letting this clown choke them?

[Arashau]

lol

[AttackMyAss]

FAIL

[Max4Lulz]

Gene LeBell is so tough he wears his Pink Gi the way it is, and doesn't give a fuck.

[MeAndMyRC]

Who's gonna call him on it?? Unless they want an accident, LOL!!

[AttackMyAss]

Haha fucking true. Not even Steven Seagal could call him out on it. He'll just choke that bitch again.

[stecha2]

there should be one more passage in the song:

there once was a man..called steven seagal

he said he could get out of any hold of gene lebell

gene put him in a choke, seagal pissed in his pant

you cannot get out of a hold by gene lebell....

[elzackkk]

i like how it has steven segal even though Gene choked him out and made him crap his pants

[MeAndMyRC]

LeBell can probably own most of the wrestlers today!

[ProducerNoelle]

The original title of the song is "The Ballad of Gene LeBell" by Mike Vendrell

[pokersux]

thank you

[Verdux]

Gene Lebelle vs Kimura

[MeAndMyRC]

winner: LeBelle!

[KungFuJoeMarino]

Great video! I almost pooped myself, in excitement, but Seagal already did that for me.

[armandmax]

isnt it bad to hold the chock for as long as he did even after they went unconscious

[drthmstrbtr]

yeah, u should release the person after that

otherwise you can risk cardiac arrest

[sgtmac46]

They aren't unconcious yet.  Gene says there are two ways of choking someone out, one is the nice way (seen above) that lets the person go out peacefully and wake up almost immediately. The other is quick (and often results in bowel evacuation)....for that, well, ask Steven Seagal. ;)

[rickyhurtado]

this is the greatest video ever made, evn better then any chuck norris joke :) lol

Gene LeBelle choking people out in a pink gi. Classic!

[globalsystems]

lebell wears a pink dogi, go figure. the stories of him choking Seagal are falsely exaggerated by judo loving over weight bored school boys.

[MeAndMyRC]

This is a cool song!

[maxgedge]

yeah he did, several times. he worked with bruce lee in several movies and lost deliberately, but if u red the biography it says how he used to grapple with bruce afterwards and choke him etc. bruce lee has a black blt under lebell i think.

[HATEbeersnobs]

did he ever choke out bruce lee?

i heard something along the lines of that

[naj85]

Do somebody know the original title of this song????

[sgtmac46]

Steven Seagal playing the guitar! That's fricken' AWESOME!  It's too bad there wasn't video of Gene choking Stevie boy UNCONCIOUS and INCONTINENT!

[hopesnebay]

...does anyone have clip of when gene choke out steven....steven even crapped in is pants after passing out in his movie set.....gene reportedly was trying to teach steven a lesson about not roughing non-martial art trained actors/stunt men...unfortunately the crappy actor never quite learned his lesson...

[drthmstrbtr]

yeah i heard Segal used to beat up on his fellow actors as well, he's a prick

John Legizumo said Steven Segall slammed him against a wall for, cuz John told a joke he didnt like

[hopesnebay]

wow...that is sad. I don't even watch his flicks anymore...he's so sorry. Maybe Hollywood should check out one of his former bodyguards- Sifu Randy Williams....bet Segal never tried messing with him...

[DOA91]

Actually he choked out segal twice because he said that no man could choke him out. Well Gene took it as a challenge and walked up and choked him out. Segal basically said that he wasn't expecting it and to try it again, so gene choked him out a second time.

[Icepacalapse]

I met him at elizabeth virrick gym in coconut grove (miami). Muhammad Ali was there holding court talking with the kids training and someone asked if anyone could be Ali to which Ali responded....."yeah that guy over there". It was gene.

[Olorinii]

I just Googled them up...

[HDJUDOKA]

Gene Lebell and my teacher in West Florida (name witheld)are good friends. My teacher is in his late 70's and gets a kick out of some of the old Judo stuff I find on the web. Where should I look to find some of these pix?

[ProducerNoelle]

And in answer to the Hayward Nishioka question ... Gene trained Hayward for many years and they are good friends to this day. Gene refers to Hayward as the best of the best. There a many pix of the two of them if you know where to look

[ProducerNoelle]

I'd suggest picking up a copy of "The Godfather of Grappling" if you'd like to be amazed at what Gene has done in his life. He's my hero. If you want to learn how to grapple then the Encyclopedia of Finishing Holds is the book for you.

It's pretty wild to see footage I shot on here! (Noelle Kim here fyi)

[ProducerNoelle]

For those that are curious about the music in this vid: The song is called "The Ballad of Gene LeBell" and it was written and recorded by Mike Vendrell in one take on a little tape recorder in Gene's office. Mike Vendrell was Brandon Lee's martial arts trainer fyi and remains a dear friend of Gene's

[Wipers]

What song is that and where did you get the picture of gene lebell and hayward nishioka?

[azzjs]

taught bruce lee 2 grapple.hard az fuck.

[boss0fallbosses]

He also taught Bruce Lee judo. And he really did wrestle a bear. AND TOOK IT! now thats hard as fuck!

[kenpojujitsu3]

That was great.  Especially the ending!

[jcbaglietto]

hahah lol!!! steven seagal!! that clown!!!

[dahmer626]

that was awesome o give it ten stars i wish there was footage of gene chocking that prick out

[joergus]

NICE!!!!

[deeperplay]

thanks for the big grin on my face.....great ending

[WorldWarCheese]

Where'd that song come from? I owe that singer a cookie.

[JustGuess500]

Oh god, that ending was priceless.