Hanabi Judo has been a fantastic experience for our family. We moved from abroad and Hanabi welcomed us in with open arms, working with my son to feel comfortable and confident. Dan Sensie is accomodating, always available to give families and kids the individual support and attention they need, and runs a dojo that is warm and community-centric while still maintaining the highest level of discipline and professionalism. We have watched my son grow stronger and improve his skills and practice, while working hard and enjoying himself! read more

Great experience talking to the owner about conditioning my older body, safety and learning how to fall. Obviously his focus on children is important for the future, but he has great wisdom for us older folks as well.and a special session Tuesday nights for the more mature. read more

Dan Augustine has welcome my family here for over 5 years. We first met at his tournament. He learned that we have no Dojo where we live and immediately invited us to visit any time. Dan Sensei always has programs going and visitors coming through his club. He had the German world team visiting last time we were in Albany. Hanabi Judo has summer camps and special clinics. A nice addition is 'parents night out' where the kids do fun stuff while parents have a 'date night' or just free time. His Judo program starts with little ones 4 to 5 years old. Then each hour the class progresses in age/ability to adults/competition classes at 8 PM. Dan Sensei makes Judo fun for the beginners and really pushes the advanced players to be their best. A bonus at this Dojo is Sensei also teaches Japanese words and phrases, songs and numbers to his students. For advanced players, Dan Sensei has the experience, knowledge and commitment to get you to State, Nationals and even World competitions. Sensei also has a massive connection to Dojos in other countries and his guest instructors from all walks of life come to teach at his Dojo. I know there are many more advantages that could be listed. Please consider Hanabi Judo as your place of choice for any level of Judo!! read more

See all

My daughters (5 & 6) have been attending Hanabi Judo for about 3 months now and my husband and I absolutely love it. They are currently learning the basics, sensei Dan is the best! It is a very close-knit family style feel in the dojo. My girls are learning the different techniques, they are learning discipline and building comradery ( I hope I spelled that right). The parents build relationships as well. Sensei teaches the class with love, he even teaches them Japanese ! He tells relatable stories about the history of Judo and different doors around the world. I definitely recommend this place! My girls will be here for the next 12 or so years! read more

Hanabi Judo - Students getting their Shimas! - Martial Arts Near Me - Albany, California

Fun for my kids, but ultimately very unsafe. My son got a severe concussion in class. He was paired with a much larger boy who had just been berated by the head sensei for losing against someone of a lower belt. The larger boy was visibly angry and my son tried to keep his distance. Eventually the boy picked him up in a completely illegal move and simply threw him to the ground. The part that really kills me: the head sensei didn't see the blow, but when he saw my son sitting out he actually sent him back onto the mat to fight again. The other sensei (who did see the fall) did not speak up. It took my son many, many months to recover and he never returned to Hanabi. This was not an injury that would have happened at a dojo with reasonable supervision. read more

My four year old daughter started at Hanabi Judo a couple months ago and really enjoys it. Sensei Dan is warm, engaging, and supportive and does a great job keeping the kids in line. The little kids are adorable in their gis and it's lots of fun to watch them lead the class in exercises and battle each other. read more

Finding Hababi Judo has been such a gift for our family. My 8-year old son struggled to find a sport or physical activity that he felt comfortable and confident in. We tried a lot of classes but nothing stuck. Within minutes of stepping into Sensai Dan's studio, he had found his place. My son finishes every class focused, proud of his accomplishments, happy and energized. The teachers are welcoming and so professional. We really look forward to continuing with Hanabi in this coming year! read more

There is history here. 3 generations of judo love from one family sums up the care and attention that is paid to the children/young athletes here. We are lucky this place was on our walking route to school, or else we might never have given it a try. HIGHLY recommend with no reservations. Unique: International flavor of the students and teachers. Many come from competitive backgrounds around the world and somehow land here in Albany to teach and workout with the other black belts. Also, the mix & interaction between different aged kids is great. It's nice to see the older kids modeling responsibility and discipline in such a kind way. The little ones really get to look up to the older ones and the older ones get to have a big brother/sister like experience. Bonuses: Convenient kitchenette area with large seating and table area. Perfect for doing homework or for parent telecommuting. One wall lined with sturdy cubbies stocked with a few games, puzzles, & books & magazines. Mostly there for kids' gear, but quite handy for corralling kid clutter. Parking: Yes, definitely utilize the lot in the back. There is street parking along San Pablo but it is very hectic with car and foot traffic of local businesses. TIP: The Summer Camps are a find. Good instruction, good teacher - student ratios, and a diverse, unique, & super fun offering of themed camps. We're returning this summer for more. read more

See all

WARNING, winning medals and competition is more important than the safety of the children. I do not write negative reviews, but I am having to, to be socially responsible and to bring awareness to families investing in their children's growth and development. Due to negligence of this dojo and their staff/teachers, my child, age 8, was endangered in a tournament matched with kids 4 years old and 4 belts higher. The staff was aware of this and assured me that this match assignment was safe BEFORE my daughter got on the mat to compete. I checked with 3 of the staffs/senseis before the match, who are trained professionals in judo, they continued to assure me that this matching is fine, and to trust them. The staff could have asked for my child to be re-matched in a division that is actually safe and fair. Due to their lack of care and attention, I was ignored and my child was choked "accidentally" by the opponent and had zero opportunity for anything, she was setup to fail, crushing her confidence. Physically, my child suffered from mild-concussion, and cannot go to school, and have to have reduced workload at school. Emotionally, she struggled with the fact that she trusted her senseis, but not certain why she was so frightened and failed them because she didn't win. The staff blamed the tournament and did not take responsibility for their own negligence of putting winning medals/competition BEFORE the safety of the children at the dojo. At first, I left a positive review because of the warmness and welcomeness I experienced at this dojo. There are so many wonderful things spoken, but when it comes to competition, it's about winning even at the price of your child's safety and mental well being. read more

I cannot say enough good about Hanabi Judo and Sensei Dan Augustine. My now 6 year old boy has been at Hanabi for over a year and a half - and it is the best decision I could have made for him. Sensei Dan has created a real community here that is welcoming, fun, and interactive. We started at Hanabi when my son was 4. A big boy for his age who loved to wrestle and tumble and did not know his own strength. I had tried a Karate class first where he was supposed to stand still until it was his turn to kick, or punch a pad. He did not stand still - he never would and the Sensei did nothing to help focus him. Next, I tried Hanabi Judo which was the complete opposite. From the get-go the Sensei was engaging, caring and yet demanding respect in the most loving way. Class was always playful and moving. When my son would lose focus and move in the opposite direction someone was always there to pick him up and fly him back into focus - literally. For my son it was fun and he loved being engaged. Over the last year and a half he has progressed from pre-judo where there is a lot of play intertwined with a bit of judo, to now being in beginning judo where the play has turned into more judo "practice" with some play, and coming is intermediate where the kids are really getting into some serious judo, they are engaged, a family, having fun and yet serious about what they do. Through this progression, my son has become comfortable in the dojo, he has learned a loving respect for the Sensei's, he has grown more confident in his body and aware of strength. He still will wander off in focus, but comes back on his own. There is a lot of mutual respect here. The playful, loving guidance can also be seen in how the older kids work with and support the younger kids, and you can see this very evidently in the summer camp program which my son has been a part of for the past two years. If you are thinking about joining a Judo community or checking out any martial arts for you or your child, do yourself and your family a favor by dropping in for a free intro. class. I tell all my friends about Hanabi and feel so happy to be a part of this community! read more

Hanabi is awesome. I used to fear confrontation and thru judo training I was able to transcend that limit. Randori (sparring matches) are an integral part of judo training and the level of confidence as far as personal development has enabled me to translate that same courage into daily life. I would highly recommend anybody who is even minutely interested in martial arts to drop by and check out Hanabi judo. It's a very welcoming space and they even have kids classes (very integral as far as personal development for young children) read more

My 5-year-old son has been taking Judo with Sensei Dan as part of an after school activity with the local recreation dept. I've sat in on his sessions, and I love how Judo is an opportunity for my son to both be active and work on his listening skills. He makes the Judo moves relatable for small children with analogies to cars and other things. Thoughtful and fun approach! read more

Thing 2 is reluctantly active. This means that anything that is organized, he is not a huge fan of. This also means that I sign him up for things then drag his butt to the activity because he would rather be playing outside with his friends, which is all fine and good (and I would rather be outside playing with my friends as well), but some structure does his little body good. He's always been somewhat uncoordinated as well, even for a 7-year-old, but I digress... He started with Sensei Dan Augustine in September at the Albany Community Center. Space was cramped, and there were a lot of kids, but the 40+ years of experience really shone through. Thing 2, still reluctant (because that's how he rolls), was learning something. He was becoming more coordinated and balanced, and he was loving the class's teachers. He started saying, after class, "I love judo!" Well, lo and behold, after 40+ years of having no real dojo, the Augustines have opened up a dojo, named Hanabi (which means "fireworks" in Japanese), and right on San Pablo in Albany, just across from BevMo. And, in true Albany fashion, it is very family friendly and fun. Case in point- took Thing 2 to Judo for All (Friday nights, 6:05pm) and I joined in. My first time doing judo and I am totally hooked. Dan Sensei makes it fun and engaging and there is constant movement. I've watched a lot of martial arts classes (and other kids' classes) where there was a lot of the you-watch-me-now-each-person-takes-a-turn; meanwhile, most of the class was goofing off while waiting. This doesn't happen at Hanabi. Dan Sensei and his staff know kids. It is obvious they love kids, every single one of them, and care deeply about each kid's learning and moving forward. They're nice to moms and dads, and even have a family class as well. All you over-40 moms and dads, bring your kids and learn judo along with them. What a blast, really, and how often do you get to do that? There really aren't many places where you can learn WITH your kids. Dan Sensei often speaks of how he'd like every child to become a black belt and maybe a few will be Olympic champions. This may be pie-in-the-sky for some, but you can tell he really, truly feels it is possible. And I think it is, too. read more

Hanabi Judo - Martial Arts Near Me - Albany, California

My two boys (ages 6 and 8) participated in Hanabi's week-long Judo and Pokemon summer camp through Alameda's ARPD program this summer and loved it! Kids learned about Japanese culture, some language skills and vocab words, judo and traded Pokemon, etc. Instructors were so fun and the boys were really sad when it was over! Highly recommend! read more

A great institution in the east bay. The kids' classes are taught by patient, enthusiastic sensei who teach with real passion. There's a good mix of girls and boys of all ages. My child loves the classes, and has made some lasting friendships through the dojo read more

My sons took Judo at their school as an enrichment class. Sensei Dan Augustine provided them with a good foundation and structured discipline​. He is great with kids and my boys definitely enjoyed the classes they took because it was fun and challenging. I definitely recommend, Hanabi Judo! read more

a great professional place and supportive staff!! our kids are having so much fun, they have learned so much and most important is that they feel that they feel that they are capable. read more

I had been looking for professional martial arts training center for a long time. Finally my search ended at Hanabi Judo. My son was so excited to be part of this Judo Communities. He appreciates Mr Dan, the main coach and founder of Hanabi Judo who is very professional, kind and caring personality. My son got Yellow belt playing within a year. He shows us some Judo tricks at home and his confidence level has tremendously increased .Anyone who has passion and discipline, can grow faster here. He has got to know many new Judo players there and he said Mr Dan sometimes invites different internationally famous Judo players and organize different events at this center in San Pablo Avenue. My son never wants to miss any Judo classes there. I am also satisfied with the professionalism of this martial art institute and the respect of time and game ! I am thankful to Mr Dan and proud to join my son there. I would strongly recommend this Hanabi Judo for anyone who is interested to learn Judo and wants to learn discipline, wants to learn real Judo professionally and make career in martial arts game ! I am proud of joining my son there ! read more

We are so happy that we found Hanabi Judo. My boys, ages 5 and 8, attend their beginner class. They think they spend most of the hour playing rather than learning judo but in fact, they are getting the basics down. Sensei Dan is an enthusiastic, patient teacher. You can tell he really loves kids and he seems to have a smile on his face the entire time teaching. Another aspect that we love is that there are several kids who help Sensei Dan during class. These kids all have yellow belts and above so they know what they are doing. read more

Albany Judo Club (Hanabi Judo) is top notch. Sensei Dan is amazing with students of all ages. My younger son was having such a great time he got his older brother involved. The atmosphere at the Dojo is completely inviting. The students are clearly motivated and focused on learning judo, but you can tell they are having a great time doing it. Whether you are an adult interested in finding a Sensei, or a parent just looking for a place to get your kids active and involved, I give Hanabi Judo the highest recommendation. read more

Whether you are a child, teenager, young adult, or a man in his late fifties(like me), you will be in good hands with Dan Sensei and his experienced staff at Hanabi Judo in Albany. Your child will not only learn judo and coordination, but the essentials of life: mental discipline, respect for others, teamwork, concentration, etc. Even as adults, we should continue to be improve in these areas, and transend it to the real world. I wished my parents were able to send me to such a great judo school, but no use regretting such a thing. At my age, I am still able to join such a great dojo, and feel a sense of self pride. In one sentence: "Hanabi Judo is suited for people from all walks of life and age." read more

If I could give this place more than 5 stars I would. I wanted to put my 5 year old son in some extracurricular activities and this place was one of the 4 I checked out and from the beginning Hanabi Judo has been more than classes to my son. He is a very shy boy and the first couple classes he cried but Sansei Dan , Sansei Matt , and Sensei Dylan were ALWAYS there to him out making him feel comfortable and confident enough to enjoy it. He started in pre judo and now he is in begging judo and he loves it !! I am so happy and glad to have found this place . read more

My friends and I participated in the beginning adult judo class. From the minute we walked into the door, we were treated so warmly. The Senseis really took their time to teach us the techniques of basic judo throws and falls. They were all very patient and supportive. Overall it was a great experience. Definitely recommend this place to anyone. I will be coming back. And I'm sure my friends will be too! read more

(aka Hanabi Judo, Albany CA) When my oldest turned five, I called another nearby dojo and asked about their children's programs. The person who answered was arrogant and practically laughed when I told him my son's age, basically saying they had no time for little kids and that they were a serious club. PUHLEEZ. Serendipitously, I found Hanabi Dojo when it was still at the Albany Rec. Dan Augustine (Sensei) was enthusiastic about his children's program, emphasizing family first and then competition. His belief is that if you make judo fun for the whole family and create community, the kids will love it for a long time and continue to have fun, with competition or not. After 20 plus years of leading a dojo from within a YMCA or Albany Rec, the Augusine Family now has its own dojo, on San Pablo avenue, and in the one year they have been there, the community has GROWN, with all ages doing judo -women's only class, prejudo classes, FAMILy classes, black belt classes, and of course its own team which competes nationally. Dan Sensei comes from a family of Olympic worthy judo athletes, so don't be fooled by his emphasis on fun and family. Hanabi's team is serious and works hard. If you commit to the team, Dan Sensei expects a lot. But he knows that to be a lifelong judoka, you can't burn out; and so, fun is as important as work. Our two boys love him, his family and the community. Our youngest will start soon, at the age of 3 1/2. Check out the fun summer camps, combining art and judo!! It also offers Parents' Night Out every month! Try a trial class, your child won't want to leave. read more

We are so lucky to have Sensei Dan Augustine and Hanabi Judo a part of the community. Our son has been attending Judo classes there for 2 years. We were immediately impressed with the warm welcoming and comfort we received from Sensei Dan and family. Over the years, they have continued to show that they are very heavily vested in their students. They not remember a name, but Sensei can tell a story about each one of his students and that really resonated with me. The staff is always friendly, encouraging, and supportive of new students and their families. I've been most impressed with our son's development each and every week. It's given him a better sense of discipline, community, respect - that is really imbedded in the culture that is present. This year we've enrolled him in their summer camp. They may have the best summer camp in the area with their hours and tons of activities. We are especially thankful for the flexibility they've shown our family. As a Board Member of our local Chamber, I'm proud that Hanabi Judo continues to shine in our community. If you've read thus far, you owe yourself to make a visit! read more

I live in Los Angeles and my son has been learning judo there (Pasadena Dojo) since the beginning of this year. We are temporarily here in the Bay Area so I had to find a dojo locally. We were referred to Hanabi Judo (Albany Judo Club) and my son loves it. What really hit me is how Dan Sensei (and anyone else who teaches) is so good with the kids. The atmosphere is very friendly, supportive, and encouraging. There are plenty of kids of all sizes which is great, and enough that beginning and intermediate classes are separate. When I asked my son what he likes about this dojo he said the kids are nice, he gets a good challenge, everyone is warmly greeted and feels welcome, and they are learning Japanese as well! I am very happy to have found them. read more

Hanabi is a very, very special place. Sensei Dan is a great teacher, and he has an amazing rapport with kids. My son started at Hanabi 6 months ago, and I cannot possibly overstate the positive impact that this has had on his temperament, his social skills, and his physical health. The rest of the staff is great as well - my son loves working with Leon, and the more advanced young people also help with the teaching. Most dojo's feel like a class - Hanabi feels more like a community. I am happy that my son is a part of this. read more

We have really loved being a part of the Hanabi family, my son has learned so much about many many things. He is so much more confident than he was when he started. We moved here from another country and he had just had some pretty bad experiences with bullies in school. I was really at a loss as to what to do to help my son learn to defend himself, stand confident and yet know how to use his body in a way that was safe, respectful and wise. Even in the short time we have been able to spend learning under Sensei Dan's teaching we have had some life lessons that my son and I are better people for. He's much stronger mentally as well as physically (you really can't beat the physical workout that the kids get!!). It is wonderful that the kids learn about Japanese culture as they are learning judo. And it's amazing that they learn how to work hard, be disciplined and respectful in an incredibly warm family environment. The kids are so sweet with one another and are laughing and really enjoying themselves in addition to working hard. We really love Hanabi. read more

A friend of mine has been left with extensive trauma from their time learning there, and is still impacted by it years later. Although the place may be decent enough, I am incensed enough by what has occurred to them to be writing something to warn anyone else who reads this. Have caution. They may have good learning practices (almost all of the reviews here are high for that reason) but the detrimental affects to my friend's mental health because of certain people there lead me to believe that it is not all that it seems. I have had martial arts training before, albeit in a different discipline, and stopped because I just didn't mesh well with a new instructor, but their recounting of what happened made me- and still makes me- incredibly angry as someone who has been taught such an important skill by competent instructors for numerous years. The relationship and support system in a place such as this, where one is likely to get injured along the way as part of the learning process, is an important one, and something that is not to be put to the wayside for a more disciplined learning experience. read more

Hanabi is a pillar of the community. We are lucky to have them. Not only do they provide Judo instruction there's also "parent's night out" where they watch kids while parents go out for the evening, summer camp, etc. The Judo instruction of course is excellent. Sensei Dan is a gentle giant. Great guy. I highly recommend Hanabi for your kid to learn Judo, self defense, and physical fitness, and have FUN! read more

Hanabi Judo has been an incredibly supportive place over the past year and a half for my now 13-year-old daughter. I can't thank Sensei Dan enough for all he has done to support her in making it through middle school ups and downs. He models the values of hard work, discipline, and respect in the context of a community where kids can be kids and have fun. Parenting is much easier when you have Hanabi in your corner! read more

I cannot recommend Hanabi Albany Judo club more highly! Dan Sensei and his energetic and talented blackbelts lead fantastic classes for kids. My kid is gaining great confidence & taking great pride in his mastery of each new skill. The classes are athletic, rigorous and fun: blending running & jumping exercise with practice in basic judo moves (the younger kids class does them solo on the cushy tatami mats, the older kid's classes offer opportunities to practice moves on a partner). Each class includes games that get their hearts pumping and the laughter echoing off the walls of the new, light-filled studio, located close to the intersection of San Pablo & Solano (lots of free on-street parking). The kids are also learning some Japanese beyond ''Judo Japanese'', (like colors, body parts, basic introductions in Japanese). Dan Sensei often films the kids and ''screens'' the film during the same session, so the kids have a chance to see themselves on screen immediately, which they LOVE! You can tell that Dan has a background as an elementary school educator--with 2 kids, I've had ample opportunity to observe instructors and he is really in a class of his own. I drive 15 minutes to get here and would easily drive twice as far! There are also family classes, should you want to join in (I've taken a couple classes myself and had a blast!). p.s. The summer camp is GREAT! Dan Sensei places an emphasis on teaching his older kids to mentor the little ones and we loved both weeks that we were enrolled. read more

My 6 year old son has been attending since January of last year and he loves it! He used to be too shy and a little insecure and I have seen a lot of growth in his character. He has learned to speak many different phrases in Japanese.He has gotten stronger physically and emotionally. I like the exercises they do and the patience they show the students. They learn about teamwork and respect. The class is so affordable that I was even able to enroll my 4 year old as well (even though we are a low income family). My 4 year old has also grown tremendously and I am so grateful for being able to have him here. I never had this as a child and I would have loved having the opportunity to be in this sport. Sensei Dan is understanding, respectable, compassionate, and looks out for my child's best interest. I appreciate everyone there and the hard work they demonstrate to teach the little ones how to be strong and more. I also liked that they are contract free because contracts are too much pressure for me. We plan on staying here for a while read more

This place is truly amazing!!!! My daughters and I love it!!!!! Me and Dan have been talking for awhile and he has been very patient with me, helping with his words of encouragement , and with his actions. My daughter took to him very quick and surprised me on how fast she came out of her shyness! Dan , his staff and the team are truly a family, most places say they are but are far from, this place really is!!! If what you are looking for is a true family environment as well as learning great judo from great trainers and to be part of a great team... Then I promise you this is the spot!!!!!! #Bestchoiceever!!!!! read more