Also known as

Description

Ivan Gene LeBell (October 9, 1932 – August 9, 2022) was an American judoka, stuntman, actor and professional wrestler. Nicknamed "Judo Gene" and "The Godfather of Grappling", he is credited with popularizing grappling in professional fighting circles, serving as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts. He worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows and authored 12 books.

Teachers (1)

• 
  Ishikawa Takahiko

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  Trained under Ishikawa Takahiko in Japan, mentioned in Mokuren Dojo interview as one of his greatest judo teachers from training in Japan

  sports_kabaddiTokyo Metropolitan Police Department badge (1953-1955)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Trained under Ishikawa Takahiko in Japan, mentioned in Mokuren Dojo interview as one of his greatest judo teachers from training in Japan

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Who do you think were the greatest judo teachers you ever got to learn from? Gene Lebell: In the U.S. Shig Tashma, Larry Coughran, Kenneth Kinyuki, Fuji Nazawa (who just died 2 days ago), and of course I learned a lot from training in Japan (Ishikawa)"

  — Mokuren Interview: 'Judo' Gene LeBell (Mokuren Dojo)link

Ranks (3)

• linkKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech10 dan 2

  Probable

  Promoted to 10th degree red belt in judo, mentioned in Wikipedia biography

  Dan-Kyu System (2005)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Promoted to 10th degree red belt in judo, mentioned in Wikipedia biography

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Rank: 10th degree red belt in Judo"

  — English Wikipedia - Gene LeBell biography link
• linkBaguazhang

  military_tech9 dan 2

  Probable

  Promoted to 9th degree black belt in jujutsu by United States Ju-Jitsu Federation in 2000, mentioned in Wikipedia

  Dan-Kyu System (2000)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Promoted to 9th degree black belt in jujutsu by United States Ju-Jitsu Federation in 2000, mentioned in Wikipedia

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Rank: 9th degree black belt in Jujutsu"

  — English Wikipedia - Gene LeBell biography link
• military_tech10 dan 2

  Probable

  Promoted to 10th degree black belt in Kyokushin Budokai by World Martial Arts Masters Association in 2004, mentioned in Wikipedia

  Dan-Kyu System (2004)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Promoted to 10th degree black belt in Kyokushin Budokai by World Martial Arts Masters Association in 2004, mentioned in Wikipedia

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Rank: 10th degree black belt in Kyokushin Budokai"

  — English Wikipedia - Gene LeBell biography link

Students (1)

• 
  Chuck Norris

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 2

  Probable

  Norris trained in Judo under Gene LeBell as part of developing American Tang Soo Do; documented in American Tang Soo Do Wikipedia article

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Norris trained in Judo under Gene LeBell as part of developing American Tang Soo Do; documented in American Tang Soo Do Wikipedia article

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Norris continued his martial arts training with... Judo expert Gene LeBell"

  — American Tang Soo Do (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo

Sources