Also known as
SAC-ARDC Combative Measures Instructor Course · SAC Combative Measures
Instructor Training
Description
The Strategic Air Command Combative Measures instructor training program,
initiated by General Curtis LeMay in 1951. Selected SAC airmen were sent to
Tokyo's Kodokan Judo Institute for intensive multi-art training in judo,
karate, aikido, and police tactics. The program ran for over a decade, with the
SAC-ARDC Yudanshakai sanctioned by the Kodokan in 1955. By 1962 SAC had over 160
black-belt combative measures instructors and the program produced national AAU
judo champions and an Olympian (George Harris). The course was eventually cut in
1966 during the Vietnam buildup due to budget pressures.
Participants (4)
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1 source
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The E-Judo forum thread (NBK, 2014) cites a Nihon Jujutsu origins website
stating Tomiki led the Kodokan committee that developed Kodokan goshinjutsu and
served as head aikido instructor for the SAC program.
“Aikido instruction was led by Tomiki”
— (2014-07-31). American airmen of the Strategic Air
Commandlink
history
info
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E-Judo forum thread (NBK, 2014) states Sato was 'an assistant aikido
instructor under Tomiki for the Strategic Air Command combatives training
program, as well as a regular in the judo training sessions.'
“Sato sensei, who instructed both aikido (under head aikido instructor Tomiki)
and taihojutsu techniques”
— (2014-07-31). American airmen of the Strategic Air
Commandlink
history
info
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E-Judo forum thread (NBK, 2014) cites Taiho Jutsu YouTube description crediting
Hosokawa as head taihojutsu instructor for the SAC eight-week training programs
at the Kodokan.
“the all important instruction in Taiho-Jutsu was given by Hosokawa and
Kikuchi.”
— (2014-07-31). American airmen of the Strategic Air
Commandlink
history
info
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2 sources
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Two independent accounts confirm Mel Bruno was appointed by LeMay to organize
and head the SAC judo and combative measures program; they differ on his exact
rank at the time (6th degree vs 5th degree) and the appointment year (1951 vs
the 1952 program launch date).
“He found the answer when he hired a former National wrestling champion and
ranking Judo person Mr. Emilio ("Mel") Bruno (6th degree black belt)
to organize and head up the SAC Judo and Physical Conditioning unit.”
“Gen. LeMay appointed Emilio ("Mel") Bruno, a former National AAU
Wrestling Champion and 5th-degree in judo, to direct the command-wide judo and
combative measures program for SAC in 1951.”
— (2014-07-31). American airmen of the Strategic Air
Commandlink
history
info
Tags
sac-judo · combative-measures · kodokan · usaf · military
Sources
“Judo has been an important part of the SAC ground-training program since 1951
when a course in "combative measures" was introduced”
— Overstreet, Grady. (2004). Judo in the Strategic
Air Commandlink
history
info
“In 1950–51, LeMay ordered that SAC introduce a Combative Measures program into
aircrew ground training. The program combined Kodokan judo, Shotokan karate,
Tomiki-style aikidō, and police control tactics”
— Larsen, Matt. (2025-08-28). Clubs or Culture? The
Rise and Fall of the 1950s Air Force Martial Arts Programlink
history
info
“The SAC Judo Society was created and became a chartered black belt organization
under the Kodokan. [...] In 1955 the AJA changed its name to Judo Black Belt
Federation (JBBF)”
“In 1956 SAC and ARDC sent 280 Air Policemen to the Kodokan to participate in
four week classes. [...] From 1959 until 1966 the Air Force Combative Measures
(Judo) Instructor Course was held at Stead Air Force Base”
— (2014-07-31). American airmen of the Strategic Air
Commandlink
history
info
Cite and reuse
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Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). SAC Combatives Course. In Martialis:
Martial Arts Lineage Database.
https://martial.is/entity/01M1MCG84SK49YRGTQDR3Q6YWD - CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed
ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01M1MCG84SK49YRGTQDR3Q6YWD, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {SAC Combatives Course}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage
Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01M1MCG84SK49YRGTQDR3Q6YWD}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
https://martial.is/entity/01M1MCG84SK49YRGTQDR3Q6YWD
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