KALARIPAYATTU-
Martial Art form of Ancient India
Kalaripayattu, an ancient martial art that
originated in peninsular India as a part of mil-
itary training for warriors, is today used for
everything from self-defence and becoming
self-aware and alert, to a way of losing weight
and flexibility training. Kalaripayattu is so old,
its origins are traditionally attributed to the
gods. But as with many aspects of Indian cul-
ture, this incredible marital art form comes
from none other than Agastya Muni. Kalar-
ipayattu combines a wide range of combat
techniques from empty hand combat to a wide
range of weaponry including long staff, short
stick, curved stick, sword and shield, spear,
mace and flexible
7
sword (urumi). Agility and flexibility are the
hallmarks of this legendary art form. Threat-
ened by the finesse and effectiveness of
this martial art, the British during their reign
in India went to the extent of forbidding the
practice of
Kalaripayattu in the
country. Following
this, the martial art
nearly became extinct.
It took the lifelong efforts
of a few dedicated people
Agasthya, a Hindu Sage
like the late C.V. Narayanan
Nair, Kottackal Kanaran and
the like to revive this legendary art form
of God’s Own Country. For Kerala, Kalaripayat-
tu is not just another martial art. Rather, its
roots are so deeply entrenched in the cultur-
al fabric of the State that it is impossible to
separate the two. It’s about learning to use
the body in every possible way. So it not only
involves exercise and other aspects of agility,
it also involves understanding the energy sys-
tem. There is Kalari chikitsa and Kalari mar-
ma which involves knowing the secrets of the
body and healing the body quickly to keep the
body in a regenerative mode. Maybe in today’s
world there are very few Kalari practitioners
who dedicate enough time, energy and focus,
but if you go deep enough you will naturally
move towards yoga because anything that
came from Agastya cannot be any other way
than being spiritual.
Kerala. Even Kathakali, the famed dance-dra-
ma has adapted Kalaripayattu techniques and
massages to train their actors. Kalaripayattu
is also used in contemporary performance
training.
Just like
martial art
teaches you
ing a fight,
so does
Kathakali (Kerela Dance form), it is believed that
some of the steps of this dance form was taken
Kalaripay-
from the Martial Art form Kalaripayattu
attu.This is
what makes it better than the other forms
of fighting. The strength within your body is
first focused upon. Kalaripayattu trainers
and practitioners believe that you can never
call yourself strong, unless you are internal-
ly healed, fit and healthy. There are a lot of
quick moves that you learn while practicing
this art. You are required to defend yourself
for protection and attack, both within a fric-
tion of the second so that you are saved
from getting injured, but are able to hurt the
opponent. This form of martial art requires
patience because it is not something that you
can learn overnight teaches you to be calm
at the same time. A blend of yoga, meditation,
C.V. Naraynan Nair(right) with his Guru
relaxation and self-defence techniques, Ka-
No other martial art form is known to have laripayattu these days is gaining prominence
had such deep influence and impact on the and popularity.
indigenous performance traditions of a State,
as Kalaripayattu has had on the art forms of
by;- Aman Jain
8