This article reports on the Adapted Utilitarian Judo project. The use of the foundations and technical elements of traditional Judo, adapted and contextualised to the requirements of the older adult population, orienting the activity toward the field of health and the improvement of the quality of life of the older adult. Its mission is to facilitate maintaining and improving the functionality and autonomy of this population, with respect to the performance of the basic and instrumental activities of daily life. At the same it seeks to achieve this while maintaining the essence of the values that are inherent to the practice of Judo as a traditional martial art. It is argued that Judo, once adapted to focus on a utilitarian function, not only allows to actively influence aspects such as maintaining the physical qualities of the elderly but also fosters other key elements for active and healthy ageing by participating in an ongoing group activity, such as socialisation and self-esteem. More specifically, the paper presents how adapted Judo represents an innovation in the treatment of a risk factor associated with aging: the active prevention of falls. We conclude that Adapted Utilitarian Judo (JUA) is both a timely and relevant as a social and educational tool of great value, responds to propos called for by the international scientific community for programs aimed at improving the health and quality of life of the older adult population, especially in Europe, that is ageing at a fast pace.

The World Health Organization reports falls as the world’s second leading cause of death from unintentional injuries in children and has called for research and educational programs in this area. The scientific community states that the head and the support of the upper extremities are the most serious and frequent impact points in a fall. Likewise, it is established that the height of the fall is fundamental in the severity of the injury. The aim of this study is to prove that the implementation of the Safe Fall program in the Physical Education classes of Elementary, Middle and High school can contribute to reducing the harmful consequences of unintentional backward falls in the child population, by assimilating protected and safe ways of falling. A quasi-experimental research design was applied. The sample consisted of 752 schoolchildren (age M=10.2, SD=2.5), at state Elementary, Middle and High schools in Seville, Andalusia, Spain. Data was collected using the INFOSECA ad-hoc observation scale, which registers 3 basic elements during the process of a safe and protected backwards fall: position of neck, hands and hips. Descriptive, correlational and contrast statistics were applied. The criterion for considering statistical significance was p<0.05 in the McNemar test. Following the application of the Safe Fall program, results showed that the students have assimilated the learning of a safe and protected way of falling for the head (p<0.001), hands (p<0.001) and hip (p<0.000), there being no differences according to sex. The teaching of safe and protected techniques for falling backwards in the child population in Primary and Secondary Education is possible through the implementation of the Safe Fall program in Physical Education classes, contributing to the overall goal of reducing the risk and severity of injuries produced by falls.