Few names evoke the same level of reverence and respect as Judo Gene LeBell. A recent episode of the Lytes Out podcast featured two of LeBell’s black belts, John Donehue and John Perretti, who shared their personal experiences and memories of their influential mentor.
Gene LeBell, often described as a “gargoyle” by Perretti due to his massive hands, enormous head, and size 16 triple E feet, was a physical anomaly whose technique was matched only by his imposing presence. “When he laid on you with intention, and he always had intention,” Perretti recalled, describing the sensation of being under LeBell’s control as “one of the most oppressive places under the weight of the man.”
What many modern MMA fans may not realize is that LeBell was pioneering mixed martial arts decades before the UFC existed. On December 2, 1963, in Salt Lake City, LeBell participated in what is considered the first sanctioned mixed martial arts event ever broadcast on television, fighting boxer Milo Savage. This was nearly 30 years before the Gracies brought Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to American audiences through the UFC.
LeBell’s contributions to combat sports extended beyond his own competitions. He served as the referee for the famous Muhammad Ali versus Antonio Inoki boxer-versus-wrestler match on June 26, 1976, which was watched by 1.4 billion people worldwide.
Both Donehue and Perretti spoke at length about LeBell’s training cabin in Frazier Park, an invitation-only facility where LeBell’s true teaching philosophy was on full display. The dojo was modest—about 20 feet by 20 feet—but what happened inside was extraordinary.
“The cabin was for training, and motorcycles are for sex,” LeBell would say, according to Perretti.
The training was notoriously intense. As Donehue explained, “Gene felt like no one else I’ve ever trained with… I’ve trained with some world champion jiu-jitsu guys, some other guys who do judo in Japan and different things, and they’ve all been great, but no one has ever felt like Jean when he gets hold of you.”
LeBell’s approach to training was sadistic yet effective. He would often give students about five minutes to try whatever they wanted against him before turning the tables completely. “This man could kill you, tear limbs apart,” said Donehue. Both men recalled instances of LeBell choking people unconscious multiple times during training sessions.
Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the interview was the discussion of LeBell’s feelings toward the Gracie family, particularly after the emergence of the “Gracie Challenge” in the 1990s.
According to Donehue, LeBell had previously maintained a cordial relationship with Helio Gracie while both were teaching at the police academy. However, after the Gracies began issuing challenges to other martial artists, LeBell became disillusioned.
“If I see that guy again I’m gonna pick him by his [__] balls and body slam him,” LeBell reportedly told Donehue, expressing his disappointment at what he perceived as disrespect toward established martial artists solely to promote Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
LeBell also had choice words for Rorion Gracie, calling him “a pencil neck who couldn’t tie his shoes in a real fight.”
The stories of LeBell’s encounters with other martial artists and celebrities are legendary. He famously choked actor Steven Seagal unconscious on the set of “Marked for Death” after Seagal had been hurting stuntmen during filming. “Gene hated bullies and he hated people that would take advantage of others,” explained Donehue.
LeBell maintained close friendships with notable martial artists like Chuck Norris, who spoke at LeBell’s roast in Los Angeles. However, others, like kickboxer Joe Lewis, reportedly avoided training with LeBell out of fear.
One of the most fascinating aspects of LeBell’s legacy is how few black belts he awarded throughout his lifetime. Only four individuals received this honor: John Donehue, John Perretti, John Lewis, and a Brazilian known as Silverado.
When asked why there were so few, Perretti responded, “Because we were some dedicated [people]… In him in us he saw something that was a microcosm of him.”
Donehue speculated that LeBell saw in them people who “really cared and loved it, loved him as a person… the whole package really took to what we were learning and embraced it.”
Beyond his martial prowess, LeBell was described as having two distinct sides to his personality. He could be incredibly kind and caring—always ending phone calls by asking, “What can I do for you?”—while simultaneously being capable of violence when necessary.
He worked extensively in Hollywood as a stuntman and actor, appearing in more films than Kirk Douglas, according to Perretti. His mother, Eileen Goldstein Eaton, was a wrestling and boxing promoter at the Olympic Auditorium, giving him early exposure to the world of combat sports and entertainment.
LeBell’s unique teaching methods included detailed explanations of anatomy and joint mechanics, making his techniques particularly effective. “What I found was there was a lack of detailed explanation [in other martial arts]… Jean would explain the actual anatomy of the shoulder joint… and if you simply took this part of the joint, the wrist, the elbow, whatever it is, and you changed that angle ever so slightly, it was like a night and day difference,” Donehue explained.
As the interview concluded, both men expressed concern that LeBell’s legacy might eventually fade away as newer generations of martial artists emerge without knowledge of his contributions.
“I want Gene to be understood,” Donehue said. “I’m somewhat fearful that it’s still going to, over time, disappear… At least if we can remember Gene for who he was, what he achieved, and what he gave everyone, that would be the most important thing for me.”
Perretti, who named his firstborn son Luca LeBell Perretti in honor of his mentor, summed up his feelings: “I would not be in such incredible company in an honorific way without Jean… This guy was just… he was self-effacing, he downplayed his own [accomplishments]… I just miss him so much.”
Gene LeBell stands as a reminder of the old school—a time when technique was developed through pain, perseverance, and countless hours of dedicated training. His influence on modern mixed martial arts, though sometimes overlooked, remains foundational to the sport we know today.
