Albany Boy Wins Medal at U.S. Junior Olympics

Albany, CA - A high five to 11-year-old Joshua Ambrosio, who attends Albany Middle School.

Hanabi Augustine Albany Judo Club sent a team of three young athletes to compete at the U.S. Junior Olympics in Irving, Texas late last month.

Joshua Ambrosio, pictured above, placed third in the 47 Kg, Intermediate 2 division for 10 and 11 year olds.

Twelve-year old Hanabi team members Keo Miyazaki of Vallejo and Marco Levine of Oakland fought hard in Irving but finished without placing.

Josh is the 2016 California State Champion and was the silver medalist at the United States Judo Federation nationals in Hawaii in 2014. He began judo at 7, enjoys Filipino folk dance, Pokeman video games and eating Lumpia, traditional Filipino egg rolls.

The club is led by 6th degree black belt Dan Augustine.

Hanabi Augustine Albany Judo was started in 1965 at the local Albany YMCA by Dan Augustine’s father Emilio. Emilio, now 85, is a 7th degree black belt and a two time Olympic official, having worked at both the 1984 Los Angeles and 1996 Atlanta games.

Dan’s son Spencer, 23, has also been a National champion, placing second in the US championships in 2014.

The Augustine family is the first in US judo history to have three generations of national champions.

In addition to national level competitors, Hanabi has classes for families, children, women and adults and visitors area always welcome.

--Photo provided by Dylan Blackburn