Has anyone read Gene LeBell's autobiography "The Toughest Man Alive"? I was wondering because I was thinking about buying it, but wanted to hear what others thought of it first.

take care,
Brian

Have there been any Gene LeBell sightings? I saw him on an episode of The Dukes of Hazzard the other day. I couldn't believe that they were having him play a bad guy.

I read his book. I liked it.

Where's Gene Lebell? I saw him downing a Big Mac with fries at the McDonalds at 2809 Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica. He looked hungry. He washed everything down with a Coke. I'm not sure where he went after that.

Is that a Gene Lebell plug, or a McDonalds plug?

I just saw him on the PCH travelling southbound in an old Cadillac Deville. He looked angry and threw an empty booze bottle out of his window. He's got red hair, right?

Right. But then again most red haired angry drunks drive Cadillac Devilles.

Incidentally, I saw him the other night shooting pool at Mr. Pockets. That guy is crazy! He lost to some guy. But he was so pissed off that he grabbed him by the nose in one of those classic three stooge numbers and pulled him like that across the pool hall. Then he cranked his neck until he cried "uncle". The entire scene was insane. He wears that pink gi, right? I think he had red hair. I'm not so sure if he was drunk, but I did see a Cadillac parked outside.

I think I saw several guys who looked just like that. They all kept saying, "YaBa-Daba-Doo", then dumped a laundry basket on Wilma's head.

Just a quick note. I saw Gene Lebell a while a go, while shopping. He is a funny guy. Very nice to people who have a sense of humor. It seems the book mentioned above is not sanctioned by Mr. Lebell. His autobiography is called the Godfather of Grappling. I am not sure how he feels about that other book. You can check with him.
I think he still teaches on Monday nights at Gokor's gym in Hollywood.
I am waiting for him to hit 80 years old, then he should be a calmer driver.

I saw a guy who looked like Gene Lebell on Hollywood Boulevard. He was wearing a dirty trenchcoat and a Santa hat and it looked like he was asking for spare change or something. When I approached him, he recited some Bukowski poetry under his breath and then told me that his car broke down and he just needed enough money to get a bus ticket back home. I gave him a twenty and in a flash he ran past me without saying a word. It looked like he picked up a six-foot-six tall sista wearing a blonde wig and they both dropped behind an alley. Next thing I know, this guy drives by in a pristine Rolls Royce wearing that Santa hat and with the ho-ho riding shotgun. I was like, what-the-••••!

Ahdoga, yeah, I saw an advert in one of the martial arts mags a few months ago for another/different biography on LeBell, which was the one you mentioned. It claimed to be the "only authorized" bio.

I saw from your website that you were here in Taiwan for awhile. Did you study martial arts with anyone while you were here?

take care,
Brian

I learned a little bit. But my main reason for being there was Chinese language and literature.

I love reading about gene lebelle he is hilarious has anybody gotten the chance to train with him?

Karo Parysian has trained with him.

I have never met Judo Gene Labelle but have met countless others that have-
and they all say he is full of humor down to earth
and really just FUN to be around and learn from.

Gene Lebell's Autobiography was something I got myself as a Christmas gift. Since I've been working on my Master's, I rarely get the opportunity to read for fun. This book was fun! I found myself laughing out loud at times...3AM in the morning. I couldn't put the book down.
Today, people see this old guy making faces while applying crazy locks...in a pink gi! There was a time he was the top Judoka in America. And some may say the world. He was a very serious Judoka. He has never drank or smoked. All he did was train. He didn't even have much of a since of humor. He was one of the first Americans to train in the hardcore Japanese dojos in California right after WWII. And he had many trips to the Kodakan.

There was no Olympics for him so he went to Pro Wrestling for money. This disgraced his fellow Japanese Judokas. It delayed his award of black belt and banned him from training in Japanese dojos in California.

Before(and during) his invite to the Judo world, he trained with boxers and pro wrestlers. He said he was surprised so many of the moves he learned in Pro wrestling, Judo claimed...and later BJJ. He always believed in "beating them with what they don't know".

His descriptions of the Shiais were scary. 18 matches in one weekend! 5 in a day and they have to carry me off the mat.

Also, his descriptions of training with the japanese was interesting. Warm ups and randori! You had to learn on the job.

His pro wrestling stories were a little over the top, but you got the picture that those guys were tough. It brought back a lot of memories for me. Reading about his interactions with some of the old time wrestlers, sent me back years(Pre-WWF). I was two weeks away from a pro wrestling career once. I'm sure my body thanks me for deciding otherwise.

His movie stunt work is beyond belief. He worked with everyone. His stories were great. He made a lot of money doing stunts. His Judo opened so many doors for him.

He doesn't bad mouth anyone or any style. Humble is his heart, along with Judo.

Great book!


He says pretty much everyone was better than him. (Humble)

He has good stories about "Superman" Steve Reeves(Judoka)and Bruce Lee(Judoka). He taught Bruce for a year. I didn't know it was for that long.

He has a good description of the entire Milo Savage ordeal. (Fighting the boxer)

One story about a military self-defense instructor was quite funny also. He didn't know Gene knew Judo!

He has no taste for Katas. Funny stories about that.

His philosphy about training LEO was right up my alley. "Aliveness".

Thanks Backarcher:
I I'm gunna' buy it.
JAMIE