About
Hanabi Judo offers judo classes and a Pre-judo program. The program includes beginning classes where younger students participate and older students take on assistant roles.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
Hanabi Judo was founded in 1965 and has been a part of the Albany community for over 50 years. The name Hanabi means “Fireworks” in Japanese. The program states that it has been developing people of strength and character since 1965 and that most members do not compete but enjoy working out and learning in a friendly atmosphere. Friends and family are always welcome to watch, and regular promotional exams move students from white belt to yellow belt and up to black belt.
Founder Emilio “Mel” Augustine is a 7th-degree black belt (7th Dan), a many-time national champion, U.S. coach, and Olympic official who began the club in 1965 and has been coach or manager of numerous American international judo teams, including one to the 1971 world championships. Head Instructor Dan Augustine is a 6th-degree black belt who won the U.S. Senior National Championship in 1984, was alternate to the 1988 Olympics, and won the U.S. Master’s Championship in 1993 and 1994; he holds a master’s degree in education, has taught in New York, Tokyo, and Berkeley, and speaks Japanese and Spanish. Hanabi reports having one of the largest groups of black-belt senseis in the country, including Brazilian and Mongolian champions and a 2009 World Master’s champion, and states that the Albany Judo Club has produced over 100 state, national, and international champions.
The program describes itself as welcoming and friendly, with a comfortable, fun environment where shouts of encouragement and laughter are common. Hanabi especially welcomes women and notes that beginning students as young as 6 help with 3- and 4-year-old Pre-judo students, while intermediate students, especially teenagers, act as assistant instructors for beginning kids. Younger members look up to their “sempai,” or seniors, as instructors and role models, and Hanabi notes examples of high-achieving high school senior assistant instructors. Hanabi, like judo, is described as an international community, with members from countries including Japan, Russia, Brazil, Israel, Algeria, Mongolia, Germany, France, and Italy.
Parent and member testimonials describe Dan Augustine as welcoming to families over many years and note that there is “history here,” with three generations of judo in one family. Parents report that classes keep kids engaged rather than waiting around, that staff “know kids” and care about each child’s learning and progress, and that children learn judo, coordination, and what one parent calls “essentials of life” such as mental discipline, respect for others, teamwork, and concentration. Another testimonial states that children, teenagers, young adults, and adults in their late fifties are “in good hands” with Dan Sensei and his experienced staff at Hanabi Judo.
Last updated June 19, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
Hanabi Judo was founded in 1965 and has been a part of the Albany community for over 50 years. The name Hanabi means “Fireworks” in Japanese. The program states that it has been developing people of strength and character since 1965 and that most members do not compete but enjoy working out and learning in a friendly atmosphere. Friends and family are always welcome to watch, and regular promotional exams move students from white belt to yellow belt and up to black belt.
Founder Emilio “Mel” Augustine is a 7th-degree black belt (7th Dan), a many-time national champion, U.S. coach, and Olympic official who began the club in 1965 and has been coach or manager of numerous American international judo teams, including one to the 1971 world championships. Head Instructor Dan Augustine is a 6th-degree black belt who won the U.S. Senior National Championship in 1984, was alternate to the 1988 Olympics, and won the U.S. Master’s Championship in 1993 and 1994; he holds a master’s degree in education, has taught in New York, Tokyo, and Berkeley, and speaks Japanese and Spanish. Hanabi reports having one of the largest groups of black-belt senseis in the country, including Brazilian and Mongolian champions and a 2009 World Master’s champion, and states that the Albany Judo Club has produced over 100 state, national, and international champions.
The program describes itself as welcoming and friendly, with a comfortable, fun environment where shouts of encouragement and laughter are common. Hanabi especially welcomes women and notes that beginning students as young as 6 help with 3- and 4-year-old Pre-judo students, while intermediate students, especially teenagers, act as assistant instructors for beginning kids. Younger members look up to their “sempai,” or seniors, as instructors and role models, and Hanabi notes examples of high-achieving high school senior assistant instructors. Hanabi, like judo, is described as an international community, with members from countries including Japan, Russia, Brazil, Israel, Algeria, Mongolia, Germany, France, and Italy.
Parent and member testimonials describe Dan Augustine as welcoming to families over many years and note that there is “history here,” with three generations of judo in one family. Parents report that classes keep kids engaged rather than waiting around, that staff “know kids” and care about each child’s learning and progress, and that children learn judo, coordination, and what one parent calls “essentials of life” such as mental discipline, respect for others, teamwork, and concentration. Another testimonial states that children, teenagers, young adults, and adults in their late fifties are “in good hands” with Dan Sensei and his experienced staff at Hanabi Judo.
Last updated June 19, 2026.
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