Emelio Bruno
Emilio "Mel" Bruno received his black belt from the founder of judo Jigaro Kano.[1] He is credit with popularizing Judo in the United States. He died in September 2003 reportedly of Alzheimers disase.[2] Bruno won championships for wrestling at the high school level and later the college level.[2] It was his being the first American to popularize judo in the US that he developed the name "Grand Ole" Mel Bruno.[3]
Early Life[edit]
Bruno was raised by Roy Moore who was a wrestling coach and a professional wrestling champion. As the foster son of Moore, Bruno was taught Judo and wrestling.[1] Moore earned his black belt in judo in 1932 from Jigaro Kano and 9 years later was awarded a 6 degree black belt.[4] Initially he was taught by Toshiitaka Yamauchi.[5]
Career before World War II[edit]
Bruno became the National AAU Wrestling Champion. He formed the first competitive judo program at San Jose State University in 1937. This position was later taken over by Yosh Uchida. Following this, Bruno was recruited by former boxing champion Gene Tunney to develop the combative program for the United States Navy. He later moved on to Cornell University and developed the Judo program there.[1]
Career at state public institutions[edit]
After World War II, Bruno went back to work for the California Department of Corrections where he directed the physical training and judo program for them at 10 different correctional facilities. He later moved onto the Department of Mental Hygiene and developed the Judo program there.[1]
US Wrestling coach[edit]
Bruno served as a coach of the US Wrestling Team as it toured Japan and acted as a representative of the Judo Black Belt Federation.[1] While there he helped to develop the wrestling program in Japan with his father.[4] During a 1956 trip he worked with Shotokan Karate founder Gichin Funakoshi in an effort to push Karate's popularity in Japan.[4]
World Judo Team[edit]
Bruno developed many judoka, including Ed Maley, George Harris and Paul Maruyama.[2] He was selected as the coach of the 1958 Tokyo and 1961 Paris World Judo Championships.[4]
Air Force[edit]
Bruno was selected to start and develop the US Air Force Judo program by General Thomas Power and General Curtis Emerson LeMay.[6] He coached multiple members of the US Air force to win many team championships, heavyweight, and overall championships as the coach at multiple AAU National Championships.[6] Bruno developed the US Air Force Judo team to such a high degree that in the first Judo Olympics in 1964, two of the members, George Harris and Ben Nighthorse Campbell, of the four total US Olympic team were members of the US Air Force.[4] His development of the Air Force Judo Association later led to other military branches to develop their own Judo programs.[7] This later followed the formation of the Armed Forces Judo Association and later the United States Judo Association.[6]
Olympics[edit]
Bruno and his family worked hard to get the International Olympic Committee to get Judo recognized as an Olympic sport for many years.[7] Bruno served as a coach for the National AAU Judo Team.[4]
Recognition[edit]
In 2007, Bruno was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum's Hall of Fame.[8]
General References[edit]
- "History of the USJA". usja.net. United States Judo Association. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Emilio Mel Bruno". allaboutmartialarts.com. Martial Arts Enterprises. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 (staff writer) (February 2004). "American Judo Pioneer Passes Away". Black Belt. Santa Clarita (California): Black Belt Communications. 42 (2): 20, 106. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
- ↑ (staff writer) (February 1978). "Library". Black Belt. Burbank (California): Rainbow Publications. 16 (2): 66. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Shimatsu, Rodger (January 1971). "Mel Bruno: The Gentle Old Man of American Judo". Black Belt. Los Angeles: Black Belt, Inc. 9 (1): 38–42. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
- ↑ Wolverton, Frank (August 1965). "The Grand Old Man of Judo". Black Belt. Los Angeles: Black Belt, Inc. 3 (8): 24–28. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Meredith, Charles C. (April 1962). "Judo in the Strategic Air Command". Black Belt. Los Angeles: Black Belt, Inc. 1 (3): 37. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Porter, Philip S. (September–October 1964). "What Is the AFJA?". Black Belt. Los Angeles: Black Belt, Inc. 2 (5): 36. Retrieved October 3, 2016.CS1 maint: Date format (link)
- ↑ "Hall of Fame". MartialArtsMuseum.com. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
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