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Martial Arts, Vedic-style: KalariPayattu
January 5, 2010 | 12 Comments
damah (Sanskrit)
self-control, sense control, subduing one’s self
arim-damah
capable of subduing one’s enemy.
KalariPayattu is the most ancient traditional system of martial arts still in existence. It is believed to have had its origin in Kerala with Sage Agastya in Vedic times, at least 2,000 years ago.
For Bee’s family, as Nairs, it is an ancestral tradition. The Nairs are a south Indian warrior class akin to the Samurais of Japan. The word ‘Nair’ or “Nayar’ derives from ‘Nayakanmar’ (warriors).
Fighting takes place with hands, wooden poles, sabres, swords, metal whips, and a host of other instruments. Since we’ve started learning taekwondo, we have a much greater appreciation of the elegance, prowess and simplicity of kalaripayattu.
Martial arts is about fighting and self-defence, but kalaripayattu embodies the synchrony between mind and body. In most martial arts, power ranks first, followed by speed and flexibility. In KalariPayattu, it’s flexibility, and agility, followed by power. Poetry in motion. The aim is to create a wholesome personality through supreme physical and emotional control.
Kalaripyattu is believed to be the mother of the current East Asian martial art forms like kung fu. The British tried, unsuccessfully to destroy it, and it has a made a huge revival over the past few decades.
At the turn of the 6th century A.D., martial arts spread from Southern India to China by Daruma Bodhidarma – an Indian Buddhist monk and Kalaripayattu master. From China, martial arts have spread to Korea and Japan. Kalaripayattu is derived from the words Kalari – which means “place, threshing floor, or battlefield“, and payattu – which means to “exercise in arms or practice“…
The death blow to the Kerala military system and Kalaripayattu was dealt by the British. When the Malabar Province was ceded in favor of the British by the treaty of Seringapatam in 1792, there were a series of revolts in Malabar. The revolt led by Pazhassi Raja was well supported by the Nair soldiers and Kurichya tribals of Wayanad. The British dreaded the widespread Kalari training and objected to the traditional system of carrying arms by the Nairs. Thus the Malabar commissioners found it essential to unarm the entire region to establish tranquility…
At the time of the Pazhassi rebellion, British soldiers raided each and every house of the rebels to confiscate their arms. The same situation repeated in Travancore at the time of the revolt orchestrated by Veluthampi, the Dalawa of Travancore. These developments led to the slow deterioration of Kalaripayattu. Yet, there were a few Kalaripayattu gurus who worked selflessly to keep this tradition of martial art alive for the future generations by training youngsters away from the prying eyes of the British rulers. (Link)
Two Americans took their video cameras inside some kalaris to provide a glimpse of how these warriors train and live. It seems as though not much has changed since a thousand years ago. This five-part series showcases skill, humility, gashed faces, elephants, and a tour of rural Kerala. Pure awesomeness.
PART 1
- Bee and Jai
Filed Under: fitness, India, kalari, kalaripayattu, Kerala, martial arts, MUSINGS, TRAVEL
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12 Comments
Hope you have watched (Kerala Verma) Pazhassi Raja of Mammootty. Also, Oru Vadakkan Veera Gaatha. Both have beautifully captured this art..
U really want to watch the pazhassi raja movie i saw few songs in you tube,
Wow, that was pure fabulousness!! Couldn’t stop watching all 5 parts. Thank you for sharing that.
Few years back when we were in trivandrum we visted a place were they were giving lessons, it was amazing. Even my teenage daughter was impressed.
Happy Newyear to both of you.
Its pure bliss for the eyes and the mind and body coordination is excellent. Its one of the greatest treasures of our country and since it demands lots of physical and mental discipline commercialization has not polluted it till day! Thanks a lot for sharing such wonderful information.
Why am I not at all surprised to read that Bee is descendant from a family that is a “south Indian warrior class akin to the Samurais of Japan”? It explains so much!
It is striking to me how permeable the membrane between controlled beauty in motion and violence. Thank you for sharing these videos!
Great post guys!
Wow!! beautiful videos! and useful information
Thank you for this. I’ve always been fascinated by KalariPayattu.
hi b,
have never thought of you as a south indian samurai. wow!
d
yea, the main difference between mallus and japs is the coconut oil in the hair.
Enjoyed seeing the videos of this martial art, kalaripayattu on your site. A glimpse into the rustic feel of Kerala, glimpses of the kalari skills being taught and fought professionally with the dangerous weapons and swords in the video taken by the two Americans was just superb and has left a memory of Kerala in my mind and heart. The interview of the children and watching them perform some kalari skills was nice to watch. Truly a stunning art form from our culture, where flexibility and agility are the prerequisites for producing an individual with physical and emotional control. Thank you for sharing with us your knowledge and love for this this martial art.