About
Hanabi Judo offers judo classes and Pre-judo. The program includes beginning students, intermediate students, and Black-Belt Senseis on the mat together in different roles.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Price: $0.00
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 and is used to express the energy, brightness, and excitement of the community. Hanabi offers classes for people ages three to seventy-three and beyond, and most members do not compete but instead work out and learn in a friendly atmosphere. Friends and family are always welcome to watch, and new students can join at any time. Regular promotional exams have students progressing from white belt to yellow and potentially to black. Beginning students as young as 6 help with the 3- and 4-year-old Pre-judo students, and intermediate students, especially teenagers, act as assistant instructors for the beginning kids. Hanabi describes its environment as one where “No” or “Don’t” are not words heard often, and instead there are shouts of encouragement and laughter. Hanabi is described as an international community with members from countries including Japan, Russia, Brazil, Israel, Algeria, Mongolia, Germany, France, and Italy.
Founder Emilio “Mel” Augustine is a seventh degree black belt, a many-time national champion, a U.S. coach, and an Olympic official. Head Instructor Dan Augustine is a sixth degree black belt who won the U.S. Senior National Championship in 1984, was the 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 both Japanese and Spanish. Hanabi states that it has one of the largest groups of Black-Belt Senseis in the country, including Brazilian and Mongolian champions and a 2009 World Master’s champion. Hanabi Judo reports that it has produced over a hundred state, national, and international champions, and notes 2026 USA Judo Youth National Champions Ren and Shuhan. The Albany Judo Club is described as having produced over 100 state, national, and international champions. Two high school senior assistant instructors, Flora Ziprin and Wesley Augustine, are described as excellent students; Flora is President of the 3,500-member Berkeley High School student body, and Wesley, with a grade point average above 4.0, has been accepted into Duke University as an Engineering major.
Hanabi Judo states that its mission is “Developing people of strength and character since 1965.” It describes its goal as becoming a healthy and fun part of students’ lives. It notes that in 19th century Japan, judo’s primary goal was said to be the development of character, and Hanabi interprets that in 21st century America to mean that judo’s representatives should be good people who are welcoming and friendly. Hanabi describes itself as a comfortable, fun place for all. Hanabi Judo has been part of the Albany community for over 50 years and offers judo classes at Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley, Bay Area Kinderstube, and Tehiyah Day School.
Parent and member testimonials describe Dan Augustine as welcoming families over many years and inviting those without a dojo in their area to visit any time. One testimonial states that Hanabi is “awesome” and that through judo training the writer was able to move past a fear of confrontation. Another testimonial from a parent in his late fifties says that whether a child, teenager, young adult, or older adult, students are in good hands with Dan Sensei and his experienced staff at Hanabi Judo in Albany. A parent notes that there is “history here,” describing three generations of judo in one family and stating that this sums up the care and attention paid to children and young athletes, and that they “highly recommend with no reservations.” Another parent and member, Laury Roberts, writes that in contrast to other kids’ classes where many children are waiting and goofing off, this does not happen at Hanabi, and that Dan Sensei and his staff know kids, love kids, and care deeply about each child’s learning and progress. Parent and member Bob Craig states that a child at Hanabi “will not only learn judo and coordination, but the essentials of life: mental discipline, respect for others, teamwork, concentration, etc.”
Last updated March 20, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Price: $0.00
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 and is used to express the energy, brightness, and excitement of the community. Hanabi offers classes for people ages three to seventy-three and beyond, and most members do not compete but instead work out and learn in a friendly atmosphere. Friends and family are always welcome to watch, and new students can join at any time. Regular promotional exams have students progressing from white belt to yellow and potentially to black. Beginning students as young as 6 help with the 3- and 4-year-old Pre-judo students, and intermediate students, especially teenagers, act as assistant instructors for the beginning kids. Hanabi describes its environment as one where “No” or “Don’t” are not words heard often, and instead there are shouts of encouragement and laughter. Hanabi is described as an international community with members from countries including Japan, Russia, Brazil, Israel, Algeria, Mongolia, Germany, France, and Italy.
Founder Emilio “Mel” Augustine is a seventh degree black belt, a many-time national champion, a U.S. coach, and an Olympic official. Head Instructor Dan Augustine is a sixth degree black belt who won the U.S. Senior National Championship in 1984, was the 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 both Japanese and Spanish. Hanabi states that it has one of the largest groups of Black-Belt Senseis in the country, including Brazilian and Mongolian champions and a 2009 World Master’s champion. Hanabi Judo reports that it has produced over a hundred state, national, and international champions, and notes 2026 USA Judo Youth National Champions Ren and Shuhan. The Albany Judo Club is described as having produced over 100 state, national, and international champions. Two high school senior assistant instructors, Flora Ziprin and Wesley Augustine, are described as excellent students; Flora is President of the 3,500-member Berkeley High School student body, and Wesley, with a grade point average above 4.0, has been accepted into Duke University as an Engineering major.
Hanabi Judo states that its mission is “Developing people of strength and character since 1965.” It describes its goal as becoming a healthy and fun part of students’ lives. It notes that in 19th century Japan, judo’s primary goal was said to be the development of character, and Hanabi interprets that in 21st century America to mean that judo’s representatives should be good people who are welcoming and friendly. Hanabi describes itself as a comfortable, fun place for all. Hanabi Judo has been part of the Albany community for over 50 years and offers judo classes at Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley, Bay Area Kinderstube, and Tehiyah Day School.
Parent and member testimonials describe Dan Augustine as welcoming families over many years and inviting those without a dojo in their area to visit any time. One testimonial states that Hanabi is “awesome” and that through judo training the writer was able to move past a fear of confrontation. Another testimonial from a parent in his late fifties says that whether a child, teenager, young adult, or older adult, students are in good hands with Dan Sensei and his experienced staff at Hanabi Judo in Albany. A parent notes that there is “history here,” describing three generations of judo in one family and stating that this sums up the care and attention paid to children and young athletes, and that they “highly recommend with no reservations.” Another parent and member, Laury Roberts, writes that in contrast to other kids’ classes where many children are waiting and goofing off, this does not happen at Hanabi, and that Dan Sensei and his staff know kids, love kids, and care deeply about each child’s learning and progress. Parent and member Bob Craig states that a child at Hanabi “will not only learn judo and coordination, but the essentials of life: mental discipline, respect for others, teamwork, concentration, etc.”
Last updated March 20, 2026.
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