Safe Falling Session for Coaches

Following two very different and successful pilots JudoScotland is now in a position to introduce the British Judo concept of ‘Finding Your Feet’. This programme aims to use Judo as a medium to provide a better quality of life for older people by improving their movement and increasing their confidence and relationship with the floor. We invite coaches to come along, listen to the stories behind our pilots at Garioch & Carnegie Judo clubs, try out some of the practical elements and join in on the discussion about how you would take this forward for your club.

Information from British Judo Below

Falls are an important problem for older people and society. By 2030 the world is predicted to have 1 billion older people (65+), accounting for 13% of the total population. This brings societal challenges to fnd ways to help improve quality of life of these older people. Often just the fear of falling can provoke older people to fall more often.

Falls among the over 65s cost the NHS £4.6 million per day. Data suggests that 33% of people over 65, and 50% of people over 80, fall at least once a year. Falls are the most common cause of death from injury in the over 65s.

Older people are scared of falling. The fear of falling results in the avoidance of activity. Avoidance of activity can lead of loss of muscle strength leading to less ability to control movement, further compromising balance, increasing the likelihood of having a fall and increasing further the fear of falling. The fear of falling can contribute to psychological conditions such as depression. Fear of falling can lead to less participation in social activities and increase feelings of isolation and loneliness with the consequent negative impact on mental health and wellbeing.

There is clear evidence of a relationship between fear of falling and falls incidence. Reducing fear of falling leads to reduced number of falls. In judo, we teach participants how to unbalance their partner and throw them to the mat, as well as how to avoid losing their balance, how to fall safely, and how to get up easily. Judo coaches are trained and qualifed in teaching people how to avoid losing their balance and fall safely. Because of the physical contact, judo can help give a sense of belonging and combat loneliness and contribute towards a better quality of life.

A number of solutions using judo are emerging; Adapted Utilitarian Judo (AUJ) uses technical elements of traditional judo adapted to the requirements of the older adult population. The AUJ programme emerged from research work at the University of Sevilla in Spain. Judo4Balance is judo inspired workplace programme based in Sweden, teaching techniques for safe landing when falling. In the Netherlands there has been a programme of Martial Arts Falls Training based on judo. In Japan, Dr Kamitani, the doctor to the All-Japan National Team has taught the ‘Yawara chan taiso’ system to older people at the Kodokan for many years. In the UK, research has been conducted at the Universities of Hertfordshire and Anglia Ruskin which draws on several global projects.

Our approach in British Judo is to empower our coaches to use their skills and expertise to help older people learn to fall in a safer way.