Gene LeBell
American judoka and martial arts instructor (1932–2022) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"The Hangman (wrestler)" redirects here. For similar uses, see Hangman § Ring name.
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.[2] He worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows and authored 12 books.[3]
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Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Gene LeBell | |
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Born | Ivan Gene LeBell (1932-10-09)October 9, 1932 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Died | August 9, 2022(2022-08-09) (aged 89) |
Other names | "Judo Gene" "The Godfather of Grappling" |
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Martial arts career | |
Style | Catch Wrestling, Judo, Jujutsu, Boxing, Jeet Kune Do |
Teacher(s) | Larry Coughran |
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Notable students | |
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Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
Trained by | |
Debut | December 10, 1955 |
Retired | August 29, 1980 |
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