The Toughest Man Alive [Hardcover]

Gene LeBell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2004

In a fifty year career of high falls and fist fights, Gene LeBell has crashed cars, jumped motorcycles, wrestled bears, incited riots and fought some of the deadliest men in the world. He is a two time AAU National Judo Champion and he was a professional wrestling world heavyweight champion at a time when wrestling was more about survival than show business. Gene LeBell parlayed his success in grappling into an ongoing career as a Hollywood stuntman where he has done the most dangerous job in Tinsel Town in such films and TV shows as "Raging Bull," "Rush Hour," "Bad Guys," "The Dukes of Hazzard," and "The Green Hornet."

For the first time in this long-awaited autobiography, Gene LeBell gives us an insider’s view of the back rooms, backlots, wrestling rings and Japanese dojos where he has made his living and built his reputation by dishing out pain and punishment and taking it in return.

Throughout these pages are gripping, behind the scenes accounts of such legendary figures as Bruce Lee, Muhammad Ali, Elvis Presley, Andre the Giant, Lou Thesz, Freddie Blassie, Bob Wall, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, "Sugar" Ray Robinson, "Superman" George Reeves and Burt Reynolds just to name a few. LeBell also peels back the curtain on the tightlipped world of the Hollywood stuntman and the early days of American martial arts as only he can.

Gene LeBell has broken bones, been set on fire and body-slammed by the best of them and has always come back for more. "Black Belt Magazine" has hailed "Judo" Gene as "The Toughest Man Alive" and in this book of the same name you will discover why.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gene LeBell is a hall of fame martial artist, two-time AAU National Judo champion, legendary stuntman, and was an NWA world pro wrestling champion for an astonishing 12-second title reign. He was born in Los Angeles, California and raised by his mother Aileen Eaton who was a powerful boxing promoter at a time when women were mostly housewives. Gene Lebell has authored several books on judo, grappling, submission holds and professional wrestling such as "The Grappling Club Master" and "Pro Wrestling Finishing Holds." His book "Gene LeBellÂ’s Grappling World: The Encyclopedia of Finishing Holds" is one of the top selling martial arts books of all time.

Bob Calhoun is a San Francisco based entertainment journalist who specializes in pro wrestling, martial arts and classic movies and television. His work has been published in Salon.com, Emmy Magazine, SFGate.com, and Giant Robot. Under an alternate stage name, he has been nominated for a California Music Award and toured the US and Europe with a punk rock wrestling show.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Health 'N' Life Publishing (January 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0953176673
• ISBN-13: 978-0953176670
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,182,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Fraud, September 25, 2011

By 

E. Kriner (Arkansas, Usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Toughest Man Alive (Hardcover)

I wondered why I only had to pay a penny for this book.

** Special Note: There is an illegally printed book, called "The Toughest Man Alive" floating around. Please, please, please do not buy, sell, trade, or deal in that book for any reason. If you bought a copy, please go back where your purchased it, and demand a refund. Ask for the only authorized and complete book "The Godfather of Grappling".

Fiaz Rafiq, owner of Health 'n' Life (HNL) Publishing got an incomplete manuscript, full of errors, without Gene's permission. HNL Publishing offered a contract, which was refused by Gene and never signed. HNL went ahead and published the book anyway, without permission, and completely contrary to any of Gene's wishes. Furthermore, neither Gene or the ghost writer (Bob Calhoun) have ever been paid a dime for any of the copies sold. Legal action is being taken against HNL Publishing, Fiaz Rafiq, and anyone that sells, deals, or trades in that book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Unauthorized Biography, December 22, 2010

By 

Kevin M. Hyder "Hnyvek" (Newport Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Toughest Man Alive (Hardcover)

This book is in no way affiliated with Gene LeBell, and the man goes out of his way to discourage people from buying it or reading it. In his own words this is "...an illegally printed book, called "The Toughest Man Alive" floating around. Please, please, please do not buy, sell, trade, or deal in that book for any reason. If you bought a copy, please go back where your purchased it, and demand a refund. Ask for the only authorized and complete book "The Godfather of Grappling."

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Entertaining!, March 17, 2004

By 

J. Swift (New Castle, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Toughest Man Alive (Hardcover)

I first heard of Gene Lebell about ten years ago. I got the chance to watch his videos "Pro Wrestling Finsihing Holds". They had some good moves in them and were done in comdey fashion. Then later reading more about the Martial Arts in particular alot of well known Martial Artist's had nothing but praise for "Judo Gene LeBell". So on to the book.........

This book is very entertaining. This man has done it all. He was a Judo Champion, Pro Wrestler, MA teacher of teachers, commentator for Pro Wrestling, actor, stuntman, and a husband of many wives. His Mom was a promoter for boxing and wrestling in Los Angeles. So even as a youngster he had a very interesting life and rubbed shoulders with many famous people. He was training with Pro Wrestlers at 7 years of age, Ed "Strangler" Lewis being one of them. In this book is stories of Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Lou Thesz, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, OJ Simpson, Robert Conrad, James Caan, Burt Renoylds, Clint Eastwood, plus many more. If you can name them Gene probably knows them. Alot of stories in this book are hilarious. Its a very fun book to read. Wrestlers used to play jokes on each other all the time. Very funny, sometimes cruel jokes. You walk away from this book wanting more stories. Gene seems like someone that would be fun to be around. Reading this book is kind of like meeting the man. He goes into some painful details of his life as well concerning his father, and his second wife. He comes off very human in this book. And I want a part 2. Ive read some different biographies but this one was the most interesting by far. The toughest man alive is also the funniest man alive, after you read this book I think you'll agree.