Kalaripayattu,Silambattam and Adimurai. 
Martial Art forms which exists as a marriage of self-defense, yogasanas, protection and individuality. 

To look at the entire word is to take it in it's entirety as one motion. To look at it from two different angles is to seek the understanding behind the amalgamation of martial and art.
Kalari quintessentially means battlefield . Payattu in essence translates to the meaning of the practice of martial and self defensive arts. 

There is an ancient believe of reconnecting with the Earth by training in a pit dug in to the ground to harness energy and power from the Earth to assist with learning this old art form.  This ancient art shows a deep appreciation for the natural planet and an anthropomorphic attachment to the animal kingdom that we share it with.

To date Kalaripayattu, Silambattam and Adimurai remain the oldest known fighting systems in existence. Though not much can be done to pin-point the exact details of their conception and birth, historical evidence and research have placed the art forms' early days somewhere around 1000BC.

In a bygone era, there were variants to the ancient arts of Kalaripayattu, Silambattam and Adimurai which were similar in structure but differed in direction and flow keeping with whichever region of India that it was being practiced in.

From what we can glean of the old ancient texts, there were 6 disciplines to Kalaripayattu. Korum Kalari, which was guerilla-warfare training, Angga Kalari which was used to settle duels, Cheru Kalari which was a form of treatment and aid in healing, Kodum Kalari which was a meditational form which concentrated on centering the mind and quietening the soul so as to facilitate it's powers of reason in the event of combat or self-defense, Kurum Kalari which is also know as Marmashtaram; the science of the vital points which could disable an opponent with a single swift jab and lastly Kuzhi Kalari which is the most commonly practiced currently, also known as daily training.

In Silambattam, There are 2 different aspects to the art , PorSilambam (Combative) and AlangaraSilambam (Exibitive) and 18 different sub sects or styles. 
These include the Styles of Nillai Kalakki, Karnatakan , Nagam 16 , Minnal veeran  , Minnal vettu and  Kalyana varisai . There are variations in stances and salutations and position of holding the staff or weapons with the different styles.

Adimurai is the generic term for the indigenous martial arts of South India. Adimurai refers to the sport of using kicks and boxing-style punches to defeat an opponent in a similar way to that of standard boxing. Joint manipulation and locking techniques also form the basis of Adimurai.
 
Primarily, Kalaripayattu and Silambattam utilise armed and unarmed combat training. The Danur Veda, a sub-division of the Ejur Veda, one of the four ancient texts of India, considered a text of origin in the pioneer use of weapons in the region, informs us of the earliest introductions to weapon-based martial arts. Weaponry traditionally found in India such as the sword, shield, staff, deer-horn dagger, fist dagger and the deadly flexible sword were the most commonly used by practitioners of these arts. 

In the arena of unarmed combat, quick movements comprising of several versions of strikes, locks, kicks, grappling and marmashtaram were used to de-stabilise and take out opponents. 
In our student's first initiation into Kalaripayattu, Silambattam and Adimurai, the Aasaan will focus on teaching breathing manipulations, calisthenics in improving flexibility and imparting the skills needed to adopt and maintain certain stances. 
These are known typically as the Chuvadu (placement and movement of the feet) and Vadivu (body poses).  


There are Eight Vadivus commonly practiced in modern day Kalaripayattu which are taken from the movements and poses from the animal kingdom. 

Gajja Vadivu is known as the Elephant Pose, Simha Vadivu the Lion Pose, Ashwa Vadivu the Horse Pose, Varaha Vadivu the Boar Pose, Sarrppa Vadivu the Serpent Pose, Varjara Vadivu the Cat Pose, Kukudaa Vadivu the Rooster Pose and Matsaya Vadivu the Fish Pose. Codified from animals and their defensive movements, these Vadivus leverage off the Chuvadus to work the body of the student like a spring, to attack on an oncoming assault.

The relationship between Martial arts and Yoga is one that is synonymous between blood and platelets; one is not itself without the other. The various Vadivus themselves show the twinning between both arts so much so, that in various parts of the world, Kalaripayattu is fondly referred to as Martial Hatha Yoga.
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In it's essence, Meipayattu exercises have been known to enhance neuro-muscular coordination and improve physio-psychological agility. With breathing techniques, stretching calisthenics, combinations of the Vadivus, leg exercises, different forms of jumps and leaps and exercises for improving the flexibility of the body, Meipayattu is truly a powerful tool capable of transforming the body, emotions and consciousness of the student. 

With this comes an inherent sense of alertness, agility, concentration, confidence, courage and discipline, not just of the body but of the mind as well.

Welcome to a better quality of life.
Welcome to a better you.