Gene Lebell did NOT teach or fought with Bruce, here is the proof

[Kung Fu Boi]

This may make some people uncomfortable because it goes against the popular notion of Gene teaching judo to Bruce Lee. The fact is that Gene is the only one who started this story and no one else, including the fact that his story has never been verified by anyone that was part of the green hornet crew especially Benny Dobbins the stunt coordinator . When John Little interviewed Gene throughout the years, he was contradictory to how the fight happened, Gene claimed he did a fireman’s carry on Bruce, another time he said he did a crouching Nelson, the next time it was an armbar. He never said he did all 3 techniques, only one and goes on to say that Bruce was impressed with Gene's judo skills and wanting to learn from him. Bruce learned judo from Jesse Glover years before being on the Green Hornet. Gene also claimed that after the episode showing that he was on (which aired about September 20, 1966) that Bruce invited him to the Los Angeles school. The problem with this is the fact that the school did not open until February 7, 1967. Gene continues on that he could not train at Bruce’s school because of the strong incense Bruce burned and recalled the floor had thin mats. He told Bruce to train at Gene's dojo instead. John asked Steve Golden who trained at the Los Angeles school and Steve said no one burned incense and there were no mats, just a concrete floor. Another important thing is that Bruce kept a meticulous daily schedule as to who, where and when he was training and meeting up with and not once anywhere in Bruce’s personal planner does it mention Gene or his school. (Before commenting, please read the article first)
Link to further information: Kato And The Judo Man

Link to other Bruce lee/JKD related articles: Internet Archive collection

 

[MuayJitsu]

Honestly…..does it really matter?

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

So first, this really doesn't constitute as proof. People misremember things as they age, and it's also entirely possible that multiple sparring matches happened resulting in multiple submissions. Someone training a martial art in the past by no means they won't want to train with someone else when they see their better at said martial art. And I highly doubt that Bruce did not have a personal area he trained in LA before he opened his official school as well.

All that said, do people really care about this? Both men are dead. Arguments about this are getting into the "my great grandad could beat up your great grandad" territory.

 

[Kung Fu Boi]

So first, this really doesn't constitute as proof. People misremember things as they age, and it's also entirely possible that multiple sparring matches happened resulting in multiple submissions. Someone training a martial art in the past by no means they won't want to train with someone else when they see their better at said martial art. And I highly doubt that Bruce did not have a personal area he trained in LA before he opened his official school as well.

All that said, do people really care about this? Both men are dead. Arguments about this are getting into the "my great grandad could beat up your great grandad" territory.

After actually reading this, there is quite a bit of proof in it plus how does one completely forget something like this and change what happened altogether? Someone who is a habitual liar will constantly change up their story. Also if this happened multiple times, there should be some proof like people witnessing it, pics or again in Bruce’s daily schedule yet nothing of that claim.
This is about setting the record straight. If we as a society are going down the path of "they are dead there for why bring up" then why do we learn history?

 

[Haruhiko]

This may make some people uncomfortable because it goes against the popular notion of Gene teaching judo to Bruce Lee. The fact is that Gene is the only one who started this story and no one else, including the fact that his story has never been verified by anyone that was part of the green hornet crew especially Benny Dobbins the stunt coordinator . When John Little interviewed Gene throughout the years, he was contradictory to how the fight happened, Gene claimed he did a fireman’s carry on Bruce, another time he said he did a crouching Nelson, the next time it was an armbar. He never said he did all 3 techniques, only one and goes on to say that Bruce was impressed with Gene's judo skills and wanting to learn from him. Bruce learned judo from Jesse Glover years before being on the Green Hornet. Gene also claimed that after the episode showing that he was on (which aired about September 20, 1966) that Bruce invited him to the Los Angeles school. The problem with this is the fact that the school did not open until February 7, 1967. Gene continues on that he could not train at Bruce’s school because of the strong incense Bruce burned and recalled the floor had thin mats. He told Bruce to train at Gene's dojo instead. John asked Steve Golden who trained at the Los Angeles school and Steve said no one burned incense and there were no mats, just a concrete floor. Another important thing is that Bruce kept a meticulous daily schedule as to who, where and when he was training and meeting up with and not once anywhere in Bruce’s personal planner does it mention Gene or his school. (Before commenting, please read the article first)
Link to further information: Kato And The Judo Man

Link to other Bruce lee/JKD related articles: Internet Archive collection

I remember watching this years ago:

Is Gene known for... embellishments?

 

[Buka]

Kung Fu Boi, do you train Martial Arts?

 

[Kung Fu Boi]

Kung Fu Boi, do you train Martial Arts?

Yes but that is not the point at hand, which is bringing to light that Gene has made up stories of fighting and training Bruce to gain recognition.

 

[Kung Fu Boi]

I remember watching this years ago:

Is Gene known for... embellishments?

That is quite the understatement regarding Gene. More like straight up making stories to look like he bested Bruce in a fight and taught him stuff which honestly Bruce was well familiar with. Basically every time when Gene talked about this, he kept on changing the story since that is what liars tend to do. Have you read the whole article by chance?

 

[JowGaWolf]

Honestly…..does it really matter?

I was going to ask the same thing.

 

[MuayJitsu]

Yes but that is not the point at hand, which is bringing to light that Gene has made up stories of fighting and training Bruce to gain recognition.

Again so what? Both men are dead it really isn’t important at all one way or another

 

[Sammy Naur]

I'd say first and foremost, most people lie or at least embellish about their accomplishments, but this is especially true in martial arts, which are all about personal power.

Bruce Lee was well known for it, he was an actor after all, not an accomplished Shaolin warrior of any kind. Same for Gene, judo is a harsh sport and he was amazing at it but he still found the time to spin tall tales.

I think it's useful to examine these sorts of tall tales in order to keep them historically grounded, and you are right, without real solid evidence of this or that, who knows?

So to give you an alternate perspective, we know Gene was an able judoka. We don't know Bruce was. Just like we know Muhammad Ali was a great boxer, and Will Smith isn't.

 

[Buka]

Yes but that is not the point at hand, which is bringing to light that Gene has made up stories of fighting and training Bruce to gain recognition.

How long have you been training, kid? And in what? I’m trying to understand where the dislike for a legend is coming from.

Please help me understand.

 

[Kung Fu Boi]

How long have you been training, kid? And in what? I’m trying to understand where the dislike for a legend is coming from.

Please help me understand.

First off, I am not a kid, I am in my upper 20's and if you want to know, I have done wing chun and some traditional arts for a few years. I am not showing dislike or discrediting him and his judo skills by no means, merely showing that Gene's story not only does it not match up with anything regarding Bruce, it does not match Gene's own interviews. Keep in mind that John Little was going to add this fight story in his book Wrath of the Dragon which accounts all of Bruce’s actual fights. When looking over the interviews he had with Gene, he found a number of inconsistent and contradictory parts from Gene himself and found it not true when comparing it to people who have worked on the green hornet show. Have you read the whole article?

 

[drop bear]

I think i mentioned this before. But competent guys will still make stuff up.

When I bounced this was prevalent. Special forces guys have been caught out. And martial artists do it.

I don't fault them for it. But it is good to be aware of.

 

[Kung Fu Boi]

Again so what? Both men are dead it really isn’t important at all one way or another

I mean why learn history if the people involved are dead? so much for learning anything in books or anything if the people or author is dead right?

 

[isshinryuronin]

I'd say first and foremost, most people lie or at least embellish about their accomplishments, but this is especially true in martial arts, which are all about personal power.

This is not a recent phenomenon - many old kung fu "masters" claimed ties to the Shaolin temple to attract students. In fact, when I was teaching Bruce Lee an Okinawan kata years ago, we talked about this very subject.

 

[MuayJitsu]

I mean why learn history if the people involved are dead? so much for learning anything in books or anything if the people or author is dead right?

The history people learn is important stuff that actually matters….not who taught a guy judo. You’re here writing articles and arguing about something that really doesn’t matter. Both parties are dead neither can say one way or another more. I’m assuming you never met either of them so it doesn’t affect your life in anyway. You say you do martial arts so focus on your own path and not waste time obsessing over unimportant issues between 2 men you have nothing to do with.


Whether it’s true or it’s not true it doesn’t make a difference someone could say mr Miyagi and kung fu panda trained Bruce lee doesn’t make it true and also doesn’t make it worth getting so hot and bothered over

 

[Sammy Naur]

This is not a recent phenomenon - many old kung fu "masters" claimed ties to the Shaolin temple to attract students. In fact, when I was teaching Bruce Lee an Okinawan kata years ago, we talked about this very subject.

I think even that is dwarfed by the number of people who claim ties to Bruce Lee. We should compare those numbers, I think it's probably no contest.

Gene never really enjoyed that sort of popularity. But apparently a lot of people are upset?

Either way Gene was probably the best judoka Bruce ever came in contact with, I can't think of a better one, whether or not Gene was being totally honest

 

[Sammy Naur]

I mean why learn history if the people involved are dead? so much for learning anything in books or anything if the people or author is dead right?

I don't disagree but I also think it's important to be objective about claims.

Bruce Lee made a whole lot of unverifiable claims, including that he was a good fighter. I have yet to see real evidence of that. I actually think (just my opinion) most mid-level judoka or BJJ rollers would handle him easily. Which is why I have a hard time doubting Gene Lebell could (theoretically).

 

[Thonged warrior]

LeBell was full of ****. Totally overrated