Gene LeBell against a boxer

[Greg Newton]

Gary Bowes and I are both Gene LeBell fans. Gary sent me this link of Gene which was probably the first mixed martial arts fight on film. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9mER2BmNRA

I thought some of you might be interested in this.

Greg

[MikeNY]

I am a fab of Judo Gene LeBell also, never saw that fight footage before, and the end of the tape made me laugh, the cup of water trick lol! That is another person I wish I;d meet, Gene LeBell.

[Greg Newton]

You know Mike,

People argue the merits of this or that martial art, but a tough guy is a tough guy whether it is "Judo" Gene LeBell, Jack Dempsey, or Mas Oyama. It is not so much the merits of inidividual fighting style as it is the person behind the fighting style.

Realistically, even with mixed martial arts, there are RULES. I am going to paraphrase Larry Wick here, but violent confrontations are a chaotic, spontaneous reaction to what is often a planned attack. Predators choose their victims. Victims need to train for their options.

That is why any system of self defense needs to be based on natural movement patterns and gross motor skills that become second nature. It also needs to be adaptable and flexible. Third, there needs to be developed a cunning wariness of potential threats and a survival mindset that will allow you to be ruthless if necessary.

Greg