One of the oldest martial arts in the world, if not the oldest, Kalarippayattu is still being practiced widely today in the Indian state of Kerala. The Chinese Shaolin chuan is believed to have evolved from Kalarippayattu.

History and Philosophy

The term Kalaripayattu is translated as “practicing the arts of the battlefield” from Malayalam, spoken in India’s state of Kerala. This martial art was originally practiced by the warriors of Kerala to sharpen their skills in combat. In ancient times, disputes between Indian nobles were also settled by the outcome of a Kalaripayattu tournament.

The ancient art claims to be “the mother of all martial arts” – even the Chinese Shaolin chuan from the famous Shaolin temple traces its ancestry to Bodhi Dharma, an Indian Buddhist monk who was a Kalaripayattu expert.

Kalaripayattu exhibits a strong influence of ayurveda – an ancient Indian system of holistic medicine – as well as the major classical dance forms of Kerala such as Kathakali. Kalarippayyattu gurus sometimes incorporate massages with traditional medicinal oils for students, known as katcha thirumal, to increase physical flexibility or treat muscular injuries suffered during practice. As a result, this martial art is popular with dancers who train for superior physical agility and flexibility.

Kalaripayattu Training

Practiced inside a Kalari – an arena similar to a dojo – Kalaripayattu is categorized into two distinct styles, Vadakkan Kalarippayattu or “Northern style”, and Thekken Kalarippayattu or “Southern style”.  Vadakkan features elaborate, but graceful, body movements, while the southern Thekken involves very rapid economical, yet powerful, movements.

A practitioner first undergoes basic physical training through rigorous body sequences to gain excellent neuro-muscular co-ordination. This is followed by training to fight with long wooden weapons, followed by the dagger and the sword and shield. Finally, the practitioner trains in hand-to-hand combat which involves strikes to vital points of the body, grapples and arm locks.

A true Kalarippayattu practitioner also undergoes medical training and learns how to treat physical injuries with traditional medicines. The practitioner who becomes fully adept in all aspects becomes a complete master called a Gurukkal.