Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Kalari Payattu - Martial Arts of India

Kalari Payattu is the oldest living martial arts form in the world and the most famous martial art of India. This indigenous self defence technique originated around 1,500 years ago in the State of Kerala in India. The Indian Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma, was responsible for taking this form of unarmed combat to China, from where martial arts like Karate, Kung Fu and Tae-kwon-do soon developed.


Kalari payattu is derived from the words ‘Kalari’ meaning school or arena and ‘payattu’ meaning skill training and exercise. It literally means, ‘acquired skill of art’. This form of martial arts incorporates 10 stages of comprehensive training. The training consists of special exercises designed to build up sharp reflexes for hand-to-hand combat.

Kalari Payattu training also includes techniques of fighting with the use of weapons such as the mace, spears, daggers, sword and shield. It may take up to 3-5 years to master each stage depending upon the skill and ability of the learner.

Kalari Payattu, the top martial art form of India, is not only a form of martial arts, but also a form of meditation, massage, ayurveda and healing. Over the years, the system of Kalarippayattu has seen many changes that have lead to the development of different styles and schools, such as the Arappa Kai, Vatteen Tiruppu and Pilla Tangi.

The Indian government has taken up initiatives to popularise Kalari Payattu at various levels. New kalaripayattu schools have been started and kalaripayattu videos have been released on CD and can be also downloaded from the internet. Here are some more details about Kalari Payattu, the number one martial art form of India.

Read about other indigenous sports of India -

1 comment:

  1. Kalaripayattu the oldest fighting system that has caught the attention of the world, the Indian martial art which seeks its genesis from the divinity itself, introducing Kalaripayattu school for the first time in northern India.

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