World’s 1st ever Martial art is born in INDIA.
Its not everyday that a treasured art like Kalaripayattu is born and you know it is nothing ordinary when its the creation of not humans but the Gods themselves.
It is carefully constructed with the sharp observations made on the complexities of nature and survival instincts, prey techniques, and basic anatomy of wild animals.
What sets Kalari apart
It follows the ancient method of imparting lessons by following the Guru-Shishya Parampara. In Kalari , the skill of combat and weaponry is not taught to the student immediately.
The First lesson is involved in gaining patience and the right conduct to become eligible for learning the art that’s so precise and lethal.
The kalari Gurukkal silently observes his/her every shishya and promotes them into learning the warfare techniques only when they are satisfied by the character .
To be precise the ultimate goal of a Gurukkal is not to produce the best fighters in the world but to produce the selfless, courageous human beings into society. The teachings of kalari says that it is not important how powerful your body is , but how powerful is the humanity beneath that physical being.
Relevance of teaching the art of weaponry
Weaponry stages of kalari are a thoroughly thought-out structure and is very much applicable even in today’s modern times for becoming a warrior, like for eg. the Sword & Shield weapon forms a part of the 3rd stage of training in sharp weapons, known as Angathari.
It is very interesting to note that the choreographed basic fighting routine in this weapon form is actually taken from the fight between an elephant and a tiger. It consists of the swift use of sharpness, ruthlessness, and speed in its every move and attack.
So, through this weapon training, the student learns to be attentive, alert, aware of his surroundings, and become fierce inside-out.
The practitioner’s survival instincts are awakened by weapon ‘mock’ fighting, and constant practicing to such a level that it leads to the transformation of his whole body language, where his bare arm becomes and acts like a sword in times of need.
Thus, the lesson in weapon training in Kalari leads to an incomparable defensive preparedness of a practitioner.
THE LESSON TO HURT AND RECTIFY THAT HURT
Adding on to its uniqueness, there is a complete in-depth therapeutic branch of Ayurveda attached to Kalari. It consists of massages and vital point treatments of a body, that’s not only restricted to martial artists only but is for everyone’s general well-being.
It won’t be an exaggeration to say that the secret to the healthy and proper functioning of all the organs and parts of our body lies in this field of therapy.
Kalaripayattu stands tall and unstaggered even in today’s modern world and even an undue suppression of it by the colonists of this country couldn’t suppress it. Hence, this Indian authentic art will never lose its relevance because it is not just an ancient martial art but a complete way of life.
Gaja Vadivu
How animals inspired the creation of this legendary warrior art - the role of Gaja in kalaripayattu
Since, Kalaripayattu art of warfare is developed by closely observing the martial moves, fighting skills, and survival techniques of various ferocious animals, this art is raw and pure in its application. And thus, we will learn how doing workout the kalari way is the new best method to attain the mental , physical and spiritual fitness.
‘Cute’ is the first expression that comes to our mind when we hear the word, “elephants”. On the Contrary, these endearing creatures are one of the most ruthless fighters. Yes, it takes typically seven lionesses to kill a single adult elephant, such is the power of this majestic creature.
Here, Gaja meaning, elephant forms the foremost animal taken in Kalari in formulating the lesson of VADIVU.
Lesson #1
Therefore, the Gaja stance is taught to gain strength in the hips, thighs, spine and ankle with the help of a stance called as AMARCHA.
This is indisputedly the best workout for your legs strength and backbone flexibility. It is power generating in its character and hence a thorough practice is needed to attain this stance.
Lesson #2
A Kalari practitioner is taught to move in such a manner that it attains the unmatched flexibility of that of the trunk of an elephant that it uses to grab, pull, and attack an opponent.
Therefore, in the Gaja posture hands are taught to move in a particular form while using the whole body’s flexibly, especially the ‘spine’ and take the stance of a shield in front of the chest to protect the weak areas of the neck, collar bone, chin and face in an alert position of defense.
Just by looking one cannot know how strengthening and challenging this hand gesture with jointed elbows, covered abdomen and straightened spine is unless one does it themselves.
Lesson #3
Therefore, in kalari the warrior is taught to achieve enough courage and strength to fight the whole crowd and disperse it alone singlehandedly.
This stance in its various forms and application of combat is one of the best means to achieve this tremendous speed and vigor in the body irrespective of the body weight, age, sex, and physical activeness. in fact, practicing this stance leads to the whole-body transformation.
Lesson #4
Therefore, in Kalari, A warrior is taught to become a ruthless fighter by more of her mental strength than her physical ability. And that mental strength gives the confidence to use the body fearlessly in times of need.
And hence, Kalari Kendram always focuses on teaching the capacity and ability to ‘ take an attack’ as much as taught how ’to attack’ with the rigorous practice of this Gaja vadivu not only instance formation but in a rhythmic -vitality consuming- body movements and holds which boosts the confidence in onself inside out evidently.
CONCLUSION
The uniqueness of Kalari vadivu lies in its rare blend of stances, movements, and postures that actively involves all the parts of the body in a very distinctive fashion.
Kalaripayattu when done religiously for some time gives proof of its unparalleled method of fitness that the world desperately needs today.
It is an unexplored treasure of India and the martial art with the rare combination of 3M’s :
MOVEMENT
MEDITATION
MASSAGE
KaJal Srivastava- Kalari Shoorgirl
Warfare has been part of mankind’s innate nature since the pre-historic era. Among the most ancient and proven forms of combat in history happens to have originated from Kerala. Early written evidence of Kalaripayattu has been found in Dhanurveda- the Vedic literature and in Sangam literature.
WHAT IS KALARIPAYATTU?
Kalaripayattu is derived from two words- ‘Kalari’ which means ‘Training school’ and ‘Payattu’ means ‘Practising’. Kalaripayattu techniques are a combination of ‘Chuvadu’ and ‘Vadivu’. Chuvadu means the basics of the martial art and Vadivu means the postures. These postures are inspired by animals that are natural fighters. These postures are eight in number. There may be slight variations from school to school, but the core principles remain the same all over.