Kalaripayattu

Regarded as the oldest and most scientific in the world, kalaripayattu, the martial art form of Kerala, is an integral of the Malayali culture. Kalarippayattu is an Indian martial art practised in Kerala and contiguous parts of neighboring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It incorporates strikes, kicks, grappling, and weaponry, as well as healing techniques. Malabar is considered to be the home of kalaripayattu. The folklore of malabar is full of ballads depicting the heroic deeds of men and women, who were exponents of this marital art form.

The term "Kalarippayattu" is a tatpurusha compound formed from the words kalari meaning "school, gymnasium" and payattu derived from "payttuka" meaning "to fight". Together these two words in Tamil mean "Practice of arts of the battlefield". Most words related to Kalari are originally from Tamil, including words like "suvadi" ( palm leaf manuscript), "vadivu" (stance/pose), "verum kai" empty hand), "mei payattu" (mei=body).

Kalaripayattu had different styles, which is generally classified into three. Thekkan or the southern style, central style and vadakkan or the northern versions of which thulunadan style is better in all respects. It was written in the history and in ballads, legendary warriors like Thacholi Othenan and Chandu after obtaining general training in Kalaripayattu, had gone to Thulunadan schools and undergone further studies and rectified the defects in the training they had already obtained.

Kalaripayattu is basically a philosophical system aiming to nurture a precise way of 'non-violent life' far from any form of aggression and structural more towards introspective self-analysis and self-control. The final goal of a kalari practitioner is not just to know exactly all the techniques of defense and offence or the proper use of the various weapons, but also to overcome and rationally tame the anger and any kind of impulsive and violent behavior, which can have extremely dangerous effects on oneself and others.

A number of Kalari exercises can be found in the craft and training of many south indian performing arts. Elements of kalaripayattu can also be seen reflected in the repertoire of modern dance and theatre. Basic training in Kalari perpares performing artists for the stage at a very fundamental level, in terms of their awareness of body and mind, concentration and flexibility.

The philosophy of this martial art stretches the limits of the human body to degree where non-ballistic weapons from wooden staff to spear sword and shield become extensions of the body