Kalarippayattu

Kalarippayattu (Malayalam: കളരിപ്പയറ്റ്) is a martial art practiced in Kerala, a state in South India and in parts of Tamil Nadu. It combines self-defense techniques, religion, and has elements of "martial dance". The word Kalarippayattu literally means 'martial training inside the gymnasium'. The term Kalari has been derived from the Sanskrit , meaning a military training ground. Kalari in common terms means school or training centre. It is a tatpurusha compound formed from the words kalari (Malayalam: കളരി) meaning "school, gymnasium " and payattu (Malayalam: പയറ്റ്) derived from "payttuka" meaning "to fight". Together these two words mean "Practice of arts of the battlefield".

History of Kalaripayattu

Oral tradition attributes the origin of kalarippayattu to Parasurama, sixth avatar of Vishnu.

Modern historians trace the origin of Kalarippayattu to the Vedic times. The earliest documented reference to Kalarippayattu occurs in A Description of the Coasts of East Africa and Malabar in the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century by Duarte Barbosa, indicating that kalarippayattu had already developed by this time.

Phillip B. Zarrilli, a professor at the University of Exeter, estimates that Kalarippayattu dates back to at least the 12th century CE. University of Exeter Whereas, historian Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai hypothesises that Kalarippayattu was a product of the battles between the Cheras and the Cholas during the 11th century CE.

Claims that Chinese and Japanese martial arts come from kalarippayattu via Bodhidharma are complicated by disputes over Bodhidharma's origins and history.

Characteristics

Kalarippayattu aims at complete coordination of mind and body. The weapon is considered as an extension of the body, controlled by the mind.

Until the 19th century, this martial art could be practised only by the warrior castes. All children of such castes were sent to a Kalari at the age of seven, where they learnt the art of warfare as a primary occupation. The Kalari is a specially constructed practicing area that comprises a Puttara (seven tiered platform) in the south-west corner. The guardian deity is located here, and is worshipped with flowers, incense and water before each practising session, which is preceded by a prayer.

Schools of Kalarippayattu

There are two main schools of Kalaripayattu — the Thekken (southern) and the Vadakkan (or nothern) styles. The Thekken Kalarippayattu, is practiced mainly in the Travancore area; whereas the Vadakkan Kalarippayattu is associated with the Naboothiri, Nair and Ezhava communities of the Malabar region. The Vadakkan style involves more elaborate and graceful body movements, while the southern style involves very rapid economical, yet powerful movements.

The roots of the Thekken style can be traced back to the Sanghom period, when the southern parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu were part of old "Thamizhakam". Associated with the Nair community of South Travancore and also with the Tamil speaking communities of Maravars, Nadars and Vellalas, the thekkan system usually takes place in a piece of land adjacent to the aasan or Guru's home. This type of kalari is called thara kkalari (thara literally meaning floor). In the past, learning Kalaripayattu was compulsory for all male members of the warrior Nair caste. It was also practised by some Ezhava families.

The Thekken style is associated with the Tamil martial arts practiced in Travancore and Kanyakumari. Compared to Vadakkan kalarippayattu, the Thekken style place more emphasis on empty-hand techniques and less on weapons. These arts claim descent from the rishi Agastya and variously go by names such as ati tata (strike/block), ati murai (way of hitting), varma ati (Tamil)/marma ati (Malayalam) (literally, hitting the vital points).

Cultural Influence

Influence of Kalaripayattu can be seen in major classical art forms of Kerala, mainly Kathakali. Kalarippayyattu teachers often provide massages with traditional medicinal oils to their students in order to increase their physical flexibility or to treat muscle injuries encountered during practice. Such massages are generally termed Thirumal and the unique massage given to increase physical flexibility is known as Katcha thirumal.

Kalari marma treatment is as sophisticated as the uzhichil treatment of ayurveda. This system of marma treatment comes under Sidha Vaidhyam,whose origin is attributed to Sage Agasthya and his disciples.

Training

A student begins his Kalarippayatt training at the age of 7 or 8 with a formal initiation ritual performed by the Master (Gurukkal). The training is mainly divided into 3 parts consisting of Meythari, Kolthari and Angathari. Apart from these, one more stage exists called Verumkai.

The above mentioned stages are for the vadakkan style. In the thekkan style the taining starts with Chuvadu (solo forms), Jodi(partner training/sparring), Kurunthadi, Neduvadi,Katthi, Katara,valum parichayum, Chuttuval, double sword and Marmma and kalari grappling. The Guru is called as "Asan"

Kalarippayattu training differs from most other martial arts training in that bare hand fighting skills are taught in the end. But this is not the case with the thekkan system. In the thekkan system the bare hand tactics are taught just after the solo forms and again when the students reaches high levels of proficiency the marmma or science of vital points are taught. Since it was originally the martial training given to warriors, the martial art teaches the practitioner to become adept in several different forms of weapons.

Kalarippayattu training is incomplete without learning the medical aspects. The practitioner who has completed martial training will be taught how to treat physical injuries with traditional medicines. A person who is well versed with all these aspects becomes a complete master and is called Kalari Gurukkal or simply Gurukkal.

Initiation Ceremony

At the age of seven, on an auspicious day or on the opening day of the new session, a novice is admitted to the kalari in the presence of the Gurukkal or a senior student, and directed to place his right foot first across the threshold. The student touches the ground with the right hand and then his forehead, as a sign of respect. He is then led to the Guruttara (the place where a lamp is kept burning in reverence to all the masters of the kalari) to repeat his act of worship. He then has to offer some money in folded betel leaves as dakshina (tuition fee) for the master and bow and prostrate himself before the latter, and touch his legs, as a sign of submission. The guru then places his hands on the pupil’s head, blesses him and prays for him. This worship— touching the ground, Poottara, Guruttara and the guru’s feet— is to be repeated everyday. It symbolizes a complete submission to and acceptance of the Kalari deities, Kalari master, and the rules and discipline of the art.

Meythari

This is the beginner stage where rigorous body sequences comprising twists, stances and complex jumps and turns are to be mastered. After the basic postures of the body twelve sequences of body control exercises are practiced; these exercises are termed as Meyppayattu and they impart excellent neuro muscular co-ordination. This is the stage of training leading to balance and flexibility.

Kolthari

Once the student has become physically competent, he/she is introduced to fighting with long wooden weapons.

The first weapon taught is the cane staff which is usually five feet (1.5 m.) in length, or up to the forehead of the student from the ground level called "Kettukari".

The second weapon taught is a short wooden stick of about two and a half feet (75 cm), or three palm spans. This is called the "Cheruvadi" or "Muchan".

The third weapon taught is "Otta", a wooden staff curved to resemble the trunk of an elephant. The tip is rounded and is used to strike the vital spots in the opponent's body. This weapon is considered the master weapon, and is the fundamental tool of practice to develop stamina, agility, power, and skill. The training in 'Otta' consists of 18 sequences.

Ankathari

Ankathari means training in warfare. Once the practitioner has gained confidence with all the wooden weapons, he/she is introduced to metal weapons, which require superior concentration due to their lethal nature.

The first weapon taught is the metal dagger called "Kadhara", which has a curved blade. The second weapon taught is the sword and shield. The sword is called "Val" and the shield is called "Paricha". The sword and shield exercises are very elegant to look at.

There are more weapons taught, including a wooden spear called the kuntham, and the flexible sword called Urumi or Chuttuval, an extremely dangerous weapon taught to only the most skillful students.

Historically, after the completion of 'Ankathari' training, the student would specialize in a weapon of his choice, to become an expert swordsman or stick fighter.

Verumkai

Only after achieving mastery with all weapons forms is the practitioner taught to defend his/her person with bare-handed techniques. These include strikes to vital pressure points of the body (called Marmam), grapples, and arm locks. The knowledge of marmam is taught by the "Kalari Gurukkal" to only the students whom he trusts. Presently only very few people are trained to hit the marmam.

Vativu (Postures) and Chuvatu (Foot movements)

Atavu which is a combination of Vativu and Chuvatu.

Vativu: There are eight Vativus or postures in Kalarippayattu and they are called "Ashta vativukal":

Gaja Vativu or the elephant pose
Asva Vativu or the horse pose
Simha Vativu or the lion pose
Varaha Vativu or the boar pose
Matsya Vativu or the fish pose
Marjara Vativu or the cat pose
Kukkuta Vativu or the cock pose
Sarpa Vativu or the serpent pose

One more Vativu practiced in some kalaries is

Mayura Vativu or the peacock pose

Each posture has its own style, power combination, usefulness and effectiveness.

Chuvatu: There are five Chuvatus or foot positions and movements they are:

Vatta Chuvatu
Aakka Chuvatu
Neekka Chuvatu
Kon Chuvatu
Ottakkal Chuvatu

One should be a master in all the foot movements to master Kalarippayattu.

AnkaKalari and Ankathattu

An Ankathattu is a four to six foot high platform constructed temporarily for the purpose of fighting duels. Ankam means war in Malayalam language. The platform is contructed of traditional materials as an arena, or AnkaKalari, where people can watch the fight.

A few centuries ago, quarrels between local rulers were resolved by holding an Ankam in which each ruler was represented by a fighter, or Ankachekavar.

Weapons used by Kalarippayattu warriors

Pirambu/Neduvati/Kettukari/Shareeravadi (long staff)
Kurunthadi/Cheruvadi/Muchhan (medium stick)
Kuruvadi (short stick)
Kottukampu or Thavikkana (names for sticks)
Otta (curved stick)
Gadha (club, mace)
Kattari (knife/dagger)
Vettukathi (a machete or kukri)
Churika/Kadhara (short sword)
Val (sword)
Paricha (round shield)
Kuntham (spear)
Urumi/Chuttuval (flexible sword)

Medieval literature also refers to these other weapons:

Relation between Kalarippayattu and other performing arts in Kerala

Many of the traditional performing art forms of Kerala, like Kathakali, Kolkali, Velakali, etc., have drawn elements from Kalarippayattu during their stages of evolution. Kathakali has borrowed much from Kalarippayattu in its basic body preparative training of the actor not only in terms of technique in practice but also from the body massage for the trainee. Many of the body postures, choreography and foot work of the Kathakali characters are taken directly from Kalarippayattu.

See Also: Arts of Kerala

References

Zarilli, P (1999). When the Body Becomes All Eyes: Paradigms, Discourses and Practices of Power in Kalarippayattu, a South Indian Martial Art (Hardcover). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195639405.

Zarrilli, P. (1992). "To heal and/or harm: The vital spots (marmmam/varmam) in two south Indian martial traditions--Part I: Focus on Kerala's kalarippayattu". Journal of Asian Martial Arts 1 (1)

Pillai, E.K. (1970). Studies in Kerala history. Kottayam: National Book Stall

Movies on Kalarippayyattu

External links

Kalarippayattu
http://www.kalariworld.com
http://www.kalarippayat.com
http://www.kalaripayatt.plus.com
http://www.keralaresidency.plus.com
http://www.cvnkalari.org
http://www.kalaripayattu.org/
http://narthaki.com/shaji_kalari/
http://kalari-koeln.de/
http://www.altaghat.com/kalari/
http://www.kalary.com/ About the Kalari-Panicker Community in Kerala: Read This!
http://www.artkerala.com/art_forms/kalaripayattu.asp
http://www.ayurjeeva.com/kalari/index.htm
AnyMartialArt.org Kalari-Payat Over view
http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/kalarippayatu.htm
http://www.vrmanoj.com/kalari.html What Kalari Payyattu Means To Me, Spiritually!

Indian martial arts | Kerala

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Kalarippayattu