Also known as

Description

American judo pioneer and the first non-Oriental in the United States to receive 5th dan (1954) and later 6th dan. He was taught judo by his foster father Roy 'Pop' Moore and received his 1st dan certified by Jigoro Kano in 1935 (awarded by the Kodokan, not as a personal student). He was appointed supervisor of Judo and Combative Measures at Strategic Air Command headquarters in 1951, creating the SAC Judo program that trained thousands of airmen. He coached the US Judo team at the 1958 and 1961 World Championships and prepared the USAF team for the 1964 Olympic tryouts. He was known as the 'father of Air Force Judo'.

Teachers (1)

• Ro
  Roy Moore Sr.

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 2

  Probable

  Mel Bruno was the foster child of Roy 'Pop' Moore, who taught him judo in the early 1930s; confirmed by USAdojo and Black Belt Magazine

  (1931)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Mel Bruno was the foster child of Roy 'Pop' Moore, who taught him judo in the early 1930s; confirmed by USAdojo and Black Belt Magazine

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Mel Bruno was the foster child of Roy 'Pop' H. Moore Sr.... Pop taught judo and wrestling to both Mel, and his much younger son, Roy Jr., in the very early 1930's"

  — Emilio Mel Bruno - USAdojolink

  The gentle old man of American Judo: Mel Brunolink

Ranks (2)

• linkKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech6 dan2

  Probable

  Rank documented in USAdojo biography

  Dan-Kyu System (1964)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Rank documented in USAdojo biography

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Retired as a 6th degree black belt"

  — Emilio Mel Bruno - USAdojolink

  military_tech1 dan 3

  Confirmed

  Multiple independent sources confirm Bruno received his shodan from Kano/Kodokan in 1935

  Dan-Kyu System (1935)

  granted by Kanō Jigorō

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Multiple independent sources confirm Bruno received his shodan from Kano/Kodokan in 1935

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Mel Bruno received his first degree Black Belt from Jigaro Kano in 1935"

  — Emilio Mel Bruno - USAdojolink

  "Bruno's black belt certificate was recommended by Dr. Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan judo"

  — The gentle old man of American Judo: Mel Bruno link

Sources