Kalaripayattu: The Hair Raising Martial Art Experience From Kerala

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Kalaripayattu, is a stunning mix of yogic strength and refined postures that is rooted in the concept of sound mind in sound body. It is an ancient combat training system, a pride of Kerala and a contribution to the world of martial combat. The supple movements of Kalaripayattu have inspired several other combative art forms like Theyyam, Parichamuttu, Poorakkali, Poikali. Kalaripayattu, teaches exercise that equip you for unarmed combat, and skilful fighting. Kalari means battlefield and payattu means fighting, in the Kerala parlance.

The entire Kalaripayattu experience is about the feline grace in movements, highflying acrobatics, and wielding of the deadly weapon with the ease of an eye blink. The movements, mannerisms, and fighting techniques of kalarippayattu have a strong beastly touch. Regular practice is known to intensify your concentration, improve your patience, speed, reflexes and immunity. It enhances your physical and spiritual strength. The arena or Kalari as it is called, is actually a ground that is dug four feet down with the interiors measuring 42 feet in length and 21 feet width. You can see a seven-tier step and a Poothara placed in the south west corner which completes the picture.

Combat Techniques

The Kalaripayattu actually comprises of four techniques namely Maithari; Body Control Exercises, Kolthari ; Practicing with wooden weapons, Ankathari; Practicing with metal weapons, and Verumkai ; Bare handed fights.

1. Meithari
Meithari, or Meippayattu, is the stage where they learn body movements that include leg workouts, twists, stnaces and jumping and turning movements. Students learn to move their bodies to enhance their flexibility.

2. Kolthari
This technique teaches the students to use stick for both defence and attack. They are given long or short rounded and curved sticks to fight once they prove themselves physical able for the fight. They are exposed to fighting with long wooden weapons once they are physically capable. Students learn combat methods, including the use of sticks, through the use of a variety of sticks in the Kolthari system, including long, short, particularly made rounded and curved ones. The student is taught to use these sticks both to attack and to defend.

3. Angathari

Weapons including Vaal, Paricha Urmi, are made use of at this level. Angathari, which is the third stage of the training which is offered to trainees once they learn to manage and control their body and mind. It uses sword and shield, spear, urumi, and dagger and hence one can avoid major injuries.

4. Verumkai

Verumkai means "bare hands" and it includes grips, kicks, strikes, blocks, attacks, throws, which are a part of the training received by the fighters. To excel in this, you need to possess a fine hand eye coordination. It teaches you how to use your own body to fight against the armed or unarmed rivals.

Leg exercises include the techniques of Ner kaal, Kon kaal, Veethu kaal, Mumbil chavitti thirinju.

Benefits

• You get an insight into and adapt several defence techniques used in the battlefront.
• Apart from strengthening the body, it improves flexibility.
• Different yoga asanas taught throughout the Kalaripayattu process, improve your outlook towards life.
• It helps you to defend yourself in case you are attacked.
• Your Self-confidence will level up by leaps and bounds.
• you will learn how to be composed and patient.
• It kills your lethargy and improves your immunity to face illnesses.
• Kalaripayattu is eminently helpful to dancers as well as it makes them flexible and supple.
• Eminently helpful in reducing stress, it also uses pranayama to help strengthen the lungs.