aikido: safe falling for seniors

In the summer of 2017, Bill Doi, a fifth-degree black belt in aikido, taught a group of about 10 senior citizens how to fall. The class emphasized balance and awareness to avoid falls, but since falling is an ever-present threat as people age, and since falling can be so devastating to seniors, the idea was to use aikido techniques to mitigate the damage of falling should it happen.

“In aikido, 50 percent of the time is spent falling,” Doi said, and those falls are taught so they’re executed without injury. If the techniques are practiced enough, they become second nature if a fall should occur.

Word got out about the Safe Falling class, and the instructors were overwhelmed when a hundred new students showed up. There was clearly a desire for this training in the community.