CANCELLED **** CANCELLED **** CANCELLED
Due to a small crack in the rock that overhangs the waterfall the health and safety committee have decided to close the path that goes behind the fall therefore waterfall training on Saturday 5th of January 2008 has been Cancelled

On the first Saturday of every new year, we gather near the Lamb Inn where we run for about three miles to Scwd-yr-Eira falls on the Brecon Beacon mountain range in South Wales. The weather is almost guaranteed cold and rainy. The event begins with a three mile run over some very rough terrain. Once we have reached the waterfall (featured below), we strip our karate gi tops and walk onto a ledge taking us around and underneath the waterfall to the far side. 

There we perform basic punch, block and kick techniques. Afterwards we go in twos back along the ledge and stand underneath the water for a period of half a minute per couple performing punch techniques. Having done that, we run back the same way to the Lamb public house for hot soup and rolls (and perhaps a brandy!).

Er, well, because you're mad? Many people that I have mentioned this form of training to have clearly thought 'nutter'. Our Founder Sosai Oyama used waterfall training during the days he spent in the mountains perfecting his art. The idea was brought to the UK by Sensei Gary Bufton. This year is the twenty first anniversary of the first organized waterfall training since he first released it was part of karate discipline in 1974 at Mitsumine Jinju (shrine), in Japan. Sensei told me that one of the most memorable occasions was when "Blue Peter" filmed them in 1986, he had 175 students that day. Not only was he featured with Caron Keating in the Blue Peter annual, but they were voted the second best feature in 30 years of the longest running children's programme on British television. The following year he had 210 participants. Waterfall training, although performed as a group, is, in fact intensely personal. Preparation and attention to detail is all important. Not just physical, but mental, especially for first-timers.

How to find the place?
The post code for the
Lamb Hotel
54 Chapel Rd, Penderyn, Aberdare CF44 9JX
Tel: 01685 811357
Use http://rp.rac.co.uk/routeplanner or
www.streetmap.co.uk to find the right directions for you.