The Mother of all martial arts - ‘Kalaripayattu’!
For those of you who thought Kung Fu or Karate were the ultimate and oldest forms of martial arts, here is a shocker. The mother of all martial arts is in fact - ‘Kalaripayattu’, the martial art form of Kerala. Said to be more than 3000 years old this is one of the oldest and perhaps the most scientific of all martial art forms in the world. Stumped?! Then read on…
Derived from the words ‘Kalari’(meaning place of training) and ‘payattu’ (meaning ‘to fight or ‘excercise’) Kalaripayattu dates back to early times in Kerala when every village had its own ‘Kalari’ and local boys (and sometimes girls) trained to become expert fighters. Trained fighters were sometimes called upon to fight duels to settle disputes in the village.
Training in Kalarippayattu starts at about the age of seven. The ancient ‘gurukulam’ system of education where the pupil resides at the Guru’s (teacher’s) kulam (residence), and works for the guru in return for food, accommodation and training, is the traditional method used for initiation into the art. Coordination of body and mind are given the utmost importance during the rigorous training regime. Training includes exercises to develop reflexes and techniques for unarmed combat as well as combat using spears, daggers, swords, sticks and other weapons.
Kalarippayattu is not merely a martial art. It is also a spiritual experience. Meditation and self control are part of the training. Exponents of this unique martial art form are also expert masseurs and bone setters. Kalarippayattu has strongly influenced the evolution of several of Kerala’s theatre and dance forms, most notably Kathakali and Theyyam.
Many of Asia’s martial art forms and practices could have evolved from Kalarippayattu, making it ‘the mother of all martial arts’. Even the highly evolved Shaolin martial art form of China traces its origin to Bodhi Dharma, an Indian Buddhist monk hailing from Kerala who was a Kalarippayattu expert.
Kalarippayattu performances are thrilling to watch. The nimbleness and agility that the performers display is truly amazing. Their dexterity with various weapons and the speed with which they react on reflex have to be seen to be believed. On your next holiday to Kerala, enjoy an exhilarating Kalaripayattu fight. We promise that it will change your views about martial arts forever!
Call Kerala Travel Centre today on Freephone 0808 178 9799 and book a holiday in Kerala. We’ll chart out a personalised itinerary that covers Kerala’s cultural aspects including a front-row view of a Kalarippayattu performance, as well as performances of other art forms unique to Kerala.
Kerala Travel Centre » Bekal: Kerala’s most exciting upcoming tourist attraction! on May 16th, 2012
[…] Ms. Rani George, Director of Kerala tourism recently noted in a press conference that what made Bekal special besides its scenic highlights was its ancient temples and mosques, handicraft like lamps, utensils and curios made of bell metal, and the fact that it had preserved amazing dance forms like’ Theyyam’ and the ancient martial art of ‘Kalaripayattu’. […]