Kalari Payattu - National Treasure of India From Kerala (kadathanad)
Kalari payyatu is a martial art from kerala, india, this form of martial art was regularly practiced in this region called as-kadathanad --which means the land between the two great rivers. At that point of time i.e. between 9th century a.d. and 12th century a.d. the disputes were usually settled by the means of a kalari fight in an ankam (duel o a fight). The disputes usually between kings, landlords or big families. The warriors of kalari who were known as ---chekors-- trained in all sorts of different skills or techniques in kalari, to have an edge over the rival kalari warrior they even practiced meditation, tantra vidya, black magic etc.
The fights used to leave only one survivor, it was a serious affair. The kalari warrior knew that someday he will have to fight and their is a chance that he may die, so to be the best in the kalari fight he practiced all sorts of trainings and practices to become unique and best.
The kings or the big families used to hire these warriors to fight out their disputes. For which they used to give a huge sum of money to the warriors. The warriors were one of the strongest people in the society as they were rich and powerful. The kings or the big families often used to take their advice on matters before taking a major decision.
But things changed as the other empires started to attack like the portugese / fench and the english. The english put a ban on kalari and its practice as they knew that with kalari going on they had a thin chance of surviving in the region. So peopla who practiced were killed, still it is said whatever it is remaining and is practiced today is the result of the strong and courageous mothers of that time. The mothers trained their children in secret, often declaring that a girl is born instead of son. The young would not know till they were around 15 yrs other that the youngsters too shared the knowledge of kalari, as the secrecy was very important. When found and caught the child was often killed in front of the mother and then the mother.
Kalari in kerala has been practiced since time immemorial, the first guru of all - the master, is none other than lord shiva (also parshurama), from whom the knowledge has come, it is also said that the kalari was also inspired from the holy text of war i.e. dhanur veda.
Their is one more way that the people believe kalari was invented - the people observed the animals and learnt the way to defend and attack.
So their are many beliefs how kalari may have started, but the fact remains is that it is one of the oldest systems of martial arts and is sadly not been recognised and promoted by our indian government.
If we just open our eyes and see around the martial arts from china have become so famous and are today a part of all the major international tournaments. It is got so much recognition because of the support from the goverment and ofcourse from the movies by legends like bruce lee and now jackie chan.
But the art that may have been the beginning of all these martial arts is today suffering becuase of the ignorance of the goverment.
Kalari has tremendous potential as far as personal fitness is concerned and also a great techniques to defend oneself.
The masters in the kalari will often say like master suresh from puddupanam says - students often join kalari keeping in mind that he is the best or he wants to become the best , but within 2 or 3 months the ego melts and a student who wants to be like everyone is born out of the one who joins.
Mr suresh also explains beautifully the meaning and importance of the kalari.
The art is practiced in a kalari which 6ft beneath the ground level , it has a natural flooring and wall, u may sometimes see wet walls due to the water seeping from underground, the roof is made up of coconut leaves covering, which also has a beautiful scientific explanation. The temperature inside is always cooler than outside as it is deeper than the ground level and the roof with the coconul leaves and the open small gap around the kalari keeps it cooler, as a result the students can practice longer and do not get exhausted.
This kind of practice also needs isolation which this kind of set up easily allows one to practice without getting disturbed.
Under strict rules people are not allowed to sit and observe students practice as they beleive the evil eye and the negative thoughts can affect a students practice.
As you enter the kalari you will see 3 - 5 or 7 steops going down, the steps will always be in a odd number, its just a belief. The kalari is always prepared in a east west direction, the steps in the east and the worship place facing the east. The worship place consists of ishwara, kundalini, guru and shastra, this is again very interesting, this has been practiced traditionally since the beginning.
Kalari has no idol worship, but it has the ishwara which represents the different steps a student has to climb or it represent a meditative yogi and the steps represent the different chakras from kundalini. The muladhari chakra to the sahasra chakra.
On the top of this is lord shiva and the energy is shakti. Then comes the three square like structures, the first is kundalini, which represents the power, the immence power within each human being, the second square is guru , the ultimate guru of all, the on who started everything, and the third square is the shastra, which represents the weapon with which you cut the ignorance and open the doors to the light of knowledge.
Mr suresh explains all this very beautifully in his words.
The students were usually taken at the age of 8 and within two to three years they were expected to cover the first two steps of kundalini by constant practice of the lalari martial art. The overcoming of the first two steps is very important as it helps one to control the basic sexual nature and the other tendencies along with that. This is very important from the point of view of strict practices one needs to follow in kalari ti become a good fighter or a good artist.
As one enters the kalari , one has to worship all the four i.e in sequence, the guru, ishwara, kundalini and disha and the shastra.
The disha worhip or the direction worships is done as it is believed that the kalari , the place of practice, is protected from outside from the 8 directions by these unknown godly figures.
Their is a certain way of worshipping to all the above and they are also the part of defence and offence. One learns this as he progresses in the kalari martial art practice.
1. wooden weapons
*long cane (3 types)
*medium rigid sticks
*small sticks (2 types)
2. sharp edged metallic weapons
*swords
*shields
*spear
*knife
*flexible sword or a belt like sword
Kacholiudayannan was a 16th century great warrior - won 64 ankams (fights) till the age of 32 - died at the age of 32 by cheating - winning 64 ankams (fights) is a very rare feat.
Kalari payyatu is a martial art from kerala, india, this form of martial art was regularly practiced in this region called as-kadathanad --which means the land between the two great rivers. At that point of time i.e. between 9th century a.d. and 12th century a.d. the disputes were usually settled by the means of a kalari fight in an ankam (duel o a fight). The disputes usually between kings, landlords or big families. The warriors of kalari who were known as ---chekors-- trained in all sorts of different skills or techniques in kalari, to have an edge over the rival kalari warrior they even practiced meditation, tantra vidya, black magic etc.
The fights used to leave only one survivor, it was a serious affair. The kalari warrior knew that someday he will have to fight and their is a chance that he may die, so to be the best in the kalari fight he practiced all sorts of trainings and practices to become unique and best.
The kings or the big families used to hire these warriors to fight out their disputes. For which they used to give a huge sum of money to the warriors. The warriors were one of the strongest people in the society as they were rich and powerful. The kings or the big families often used to take their advice on matters before taking a major decision.
But things changed as the other empires started to attack like the portugese / fench and the english. The english put a ban on kalari and its practice as they knew that with kalari going on they had a thin chance of surviving in the region. So peopla who practiced were killed, still it is said whatever it is remaining and is practiced today is the result of the strong and courageous mothers of that time. The mothers trained their children in secret, often declaring that a girl is born instead of son. The young would not know till they were around 15 yrs other that the youngsters too shared the knowledge of kalari, as the secrecy was very important. When found and caught the child was often killed in front of the mother and then the mother.
Kalari in kerala has been practiced since time immemorial, the first guru of all - the master, is none other than lord shiva (also parshurama), from whom the knowledge has come, it is also said that the kalari was also inspired from the holy text of war i.e. dhanur veda.
Their is one more way that the people believe kalari was invented - the people observed the animals and learnt the way to defend and attack.
So their are many beliefs how kalari may have started, but the fact remains is that it is one of the oldest systems of martial arts and is sadly not been recognised and promoted by our indian government.
If we just open our eyes and see around the martial arts from china have become so famous and are today a part of all the major international tournaments. It is got so much recognition because of the support from the goverment and ofcourse from the movies by legends like bruce lee and now jackie chan.
But the art that may have been the beginning of all these martial arts is today suffering becuase of the ignorance of the goverment.
Kalari has tremendous potential as far as personal fitness is concerned and also a great techniques to defend oneself.
The masters in the kalari will often say like master suresh from puddupanam says - students often join kalari keeping in mind that he is the best or he wants to become the best , but within 2 or 3 months the ego melts and a student who wants to be like everyone is born out of the one who joins.
Mr suresh also explains beautifully the meaning and importance of the kalari.
The art is practiced in a kalari which 6ft beneath the ground level , it has a natural flooring and wall, u may sometimes see wet walls due to the water seeping from underground, the roof is made up of coconut leaves covering, which also has a beautiful scientific explanation. The temperature inside is always cooler than outside as it is deeper than the ground level and the roof with the coconul leaves and the open small gap around the kalari keeps it cooler, as a result the students can practice longer and do not get exhausted.
This kind of practice also needs isolation which this kind of set up easily allows one to practice without getting disturbed.
Under strict rules people are not allowed to sit and observe students practice as they beleive the evil eye and the negative thoughts can affect a students practice.
As you enter the kalari you will see 3 - 5 or 7 steops going down, the steps will always be in a odd number, its just a belief. The kalari is always prepared in a east west direction, the steps in the east and the worship place facing the east. The worship place consists of ishwara, kundalini, guru and shastra, this is again very interesting, this has been practiced traditionally since the beginning.
Kalari has no idol worship, but it has the ishwara which represents the different steps a student has to climb or it represent a meditative yogi and the steps represent the different chakras from kundalini. The muladhari chakra to the sahasra chakra.
On the top of this is lord shiva and the energy is shakti. Then comes the three square like structures, the first is kundalini, which represents the power, the immence power within each human being, the second square is guru , the ultimate guru of all, the on who started everything, and the third square is the shastra, which represents the weapon with which you cut the ignorance and open the doors to the light of knowledge.
Mr suresh explains all this very beautifully in his words.
The students were usually taken at the age of 8 and within two to three years they were expected to cover the first two steps of kundalini by constant practice of the lalari martial art. The overcoming of the first two steps is very important as it helps one to control the basic sexual nature and the other tendencies along with that. This is very important from the point of view of strict practices one needs to follow in kalari ti become a good fighter or a good artist.
As one enters the kalari , one has to worship all the four i.e in sequence, the guru, ishwara, kundalini and disha and the shastra.
The disha worhip or the direction worships is done as it is believed that the kalari , the place of practice, is protected from outside from the 8 directions by these unknown godly figures.
Their is a certain way of worshipping to all the above and they are also the part of defence and offence. One learns this as he progresses in the kalari martial art practice.
1. wooden weapons
*long cane (3 types)
*medium rigid sticks
*small sticks (2 types)
2. sharp edged metallic weapons
*swords
*shields
*spear
*knife
*flexible sword or a belt like sword
Kacholiudayannan was a 16th century great warrior - won 64 ankams (fights) till the age of 32 - died at the age of 32 by cheating - winning 64 ankams (fights) is a very rare feat.
Mystical stories about the Kalari monks
The stick practice which has a movement above the head resembled a umbrella like movement was done with such a high speed, it said even the rain could not pass through it.......
Monks or the gurus of kalari who reached the peak of spirituality only through practice of kalari could do miraculous things through simple round movements with open hands, its believed they could even cut iron with these simple hand movements.
Monks or the gurus of kalari who reached the peak of spirituality only through practice of kalari could do miraculous things through simple round movements with open hands, its believed they could even cut iron with these simple hand movements.
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