Keynote Address: Judo-based safe falling practices for older people around the world.

There is a growing body of work concerning the introduction of judo-based safe falling practices to older people around the world. Research has identified at least 14 projects in; Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Italy, Japan, , Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. This presentation will initially outline the background to the initiative to organise the first International Con-sensus Conference of Safe falling for the Elderly through Judo. It will go on to outline the global numbers of falls and the predictions in increases in the older population.
The presentation will connect the accepted 2001 definition of a fall, with the judo expertise in kuzushi.
Globally falls are the leading cause of death from injury over 70s. Most deaths from falls happen in those aged 65 and older. Across the world there are almost 24,000 falls per hour, 63 of those cause death. There are other economic, medical and social costs. However, the United Nations predict that the number of older persons is expected to double by 2050. So we can expect the numbers of falls and the deaths from falls to rise dramatically of the coming years.
Falling often triggers a fear of falling again. The fear of falling leads to avoidance of activity, loss of muscle strength, compromised balance & increased likelihood of falling. It can contribute to depression, isolation, loneliness reduced social activities with a negative impact on mental health and wellbeing. There is clear evidence that reducing fear of falling leads to reduced numbers of falls. After fall training, fear of falling was reduced on a visual analogue scale.
Judo teaches participants how to keep balance, fall safely, and get up easily. Evidence shows this is a use-ful skill for older people to reduce fear of falling. Judo coaches can easily teach people to fall safely. There are four ukemi techniques in judo, identified by the Kodokan: yoko-ukemi, ushiro-ukemi, mae-ukemi and mae-mawari-ukemi. The three principles of ukemi will be presented.
“The final aim of judo practice and study is to make ourselves perfect and work for the benefit of socie-ty.” Professor Jigoro Kano