Competing in the heavyweight division at only 165 pounds, LeBell won the AAU National Judo Championships both in 1954 and 1955. In 1963, LeBell accepted a public challenge to fight boxer Milo Savage in Salt Lake City. Competing as a "judo/karate" fighter, LeBell defeated Savage - choking him unconscious in the 4th round. In June 1976, LeBell refereed the infamous boxing-versus-wrestling contest between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki. Decades ago, LeBell was a close friend of Bruce Lee, with whom he shared various fighting techniques. Following his combat sports career, LeBell, along with his brother Mike, ran the National Wrestling Alliance's Los Angeles territory, NWA Hollywood Wrestling from 1968 to 1982.
LeBell is held in high regard by fans of combat sports, who affectionately refer to him as "Judo" Gene LeBell. He is also commonly known as "the Godfather of Grappling" and also as "the toughest man alive". He has taught grappling skills to many well-known wrestlers and martial artists, including "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Mando Guerrero, The Rock (as well as his father many years before), Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Ken Shamrock, "Judo" Chris Adams, Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, Gokor Chivichyan, Bob Wall, Ed Parker and Larry Zbysko.
Along with the awards he has received for his feats in Judo and grappling, he received the 2005 Frank Gotch Award to celebrate the positive recognition he has brought to the sport of wrestling.
At present (2008), he is associated with Gokor Chivichyan's Hayastan MMA Academy where he teaches MMA/grappling classes. Gene keeps himself busy doing interviews for magazines, newspapers, and radio as well as judging fights. Gene has a son named David LeBell.
The pink colored Judo Gi that has become a trade mark of Gene LeBell was a result of a laundry mixup while preparing for a competition in Japan. A pair of red shorts were mixed into the laundry that contained his Gi and turned the uniform a shade of pink. He was set to compete the following day, and being a Saturday evening when he received the now colored uniform, he had to compete in the pink uniform. This set the Japanese crowd livid (it was considered very insulting). Gene would still go on to win his division.
LeBell has worked on 246 films and TV shows as a stuntman or stunt co-ordinator, and on 110 as an actor (including 6 appearances as himself.) LeBell appeared in three Elvis Presley movies as a minor character who starts a fight with the character played by Presley. In addition he also worked on the set of the Green Hornet TV show, leading to an encounter with Bruce Lee that would lead to them becoming friends and exchanging ideas. LeBell is also credited for bringing others into the stunt industry, including Bobby Bass.
LeBell has authored at least twelve books, including:
Amateur Athletic Union
Regional
