Judo for Safer Falling Report – Reducing Injury in Older Adults

A ground-breaking judo-based programme supported by Live Longer Better in Hertfordshire is making waves across the UK and beyond, helping older adults fall more safely whilst boosting their confidence and mobility.

Promoting Physical Resilience Through Judo

Falls remain one of the leading causes of injury in older populations, with a staggering 24,000 incidents and 68 fall-related deaths occurring globally per hour. To address this, Professor Mike Callan from the University of Hertfordshire designed the Finding your Feet programme using judo techniques to teach older adults how to fall more safely, reducing the risk of injury and the fear of falling.

The initiative was supported by Live Longer Better in Hertfordshire, a movement led by Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership (HSP). With support from Welwyn Hatfield Healthy Hub, a pilot programme of free community classes were delivered at the University of Hertfordshire. More than 30 older adults took part in the free pilot sessions between October 2023 to June 2024. Initial data showed a 17.4% reduction in participants’ fear of falling after just eight sessions.

The Finding Your Feet initiative was further expanded across Hertfordshire as HSP supported Shizentai Judo Club in securing Sport England funding to deliver additional community classes.

A Nationally Recognised Programme

HSP supported British Judo to launch the world’s first ‘Finding Your Feet’ safer falling coaching qualification. Seventeen coaches completed the qualification during HSP’s Coach Education Week 2024, with over 196 coaches now trained nationwide to deliver safer falling techniques in their communities.

Expanding Impact Across the Country

Interest in the programme has spread nationally; Active Cumbria launched its own 10-week pilot sessions following the training of a local coach, while Active Surrey supported a community club to establish long-term delivery through funding assistance.

The initiative also gained widespread media attention, featuring on ITV News, ITV’s This Morning, BBC’s Con or Cure, and in the Daily Mail.

For more information about the Judo for Safer Falling programme or to discuss ways HSP can support you in developing a programme, contact hspinfo@herts.ac.uk

Download the Judo Case Study