From: sdoki@cs.WPI.EDU (Suresh Doki)
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Subject: Indian martial arts
Date: 20 Dec 1992 07:36:39 GMT
Organization: Dept of Computer Science, WPI
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: ivy.wpi.edu
Keywords: kalaripayattu
Originator: sdoki@ivy





I have been following this group for quite some time and decided that
it is high time you folks knew about something about some ancient
martial arts which are STILL in existence in India. THIS ARTICLE HAS
BEEN PICKED UP FROM ANOTHER NEWSGROUP AND MODIFIED TO FIT INTO THIS
GROUP. 



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	This is for the benefit of anybody who has interest in the
Indian martial arts. 

	There are many forms and styles of martial arts which exist in 
countries like Japan, China, Korea, the Philippine Islands and Brazil.
However, Indian martial arts have remained relatively obscure and
secretive.  There are two reasons for this.  First, Indian martial
arts masters prefer to promote their arts rather than trying to make
profits through commercialization and advertisment of these arts.
Second, Indian martial arts are based on religious and traditional
rules, pujas, ceremonies etc and such commercial popularization would
remove this vital aspect of these arts. 

	One great Indian martial art is the art of kalaripayattu,
based in the southern state of Kerala.  To my knowledge it has never 
been taught outside of Kerala much less India!  This art has an
interesting history and relationship to the other martial arts of the  
world. 

	So what is this martial art known as kalaripayattu? Well it is
a system of combat and self-defense which has its own unique and
wonderful characteristics. Kalaripayattu is taught mostly during the
rainy season (monsoon) of India when the soil is damp and soft.  A
kalari (gymnasium) is constructed by digging deep pits.  Thus,
students who are in training are cushioned from falls and the like by
this soft earth. Over these pits a roof of thatched coconut branches
is used to protect the kalari from the elements. Training begins with
worship of the Devi (mother goddess) to secure blessings from her.
The reason for this is that she is believed to preside over the use of
the many weapons (some of which she carries in her eight arms). 

	The entire first year of training consists of nothing except
physical exercises intended to strengthen and prepare the body for the
rigors of kalaripayattu.  During this stage, the masters often will
massage, knead and  shape their student's bodies in a unique way.  By
hanging from ropes attached to the beams of the kalari's roof, the
masters will walk over the students bodies as they lie on the ground
under the master.  During these walks, the muscles are loosened and
made supple by the massaging of the master's feet.  In kalaripayattu,
unlike other martial arts, the emphasis is on making the muscles
supple and strong rather than bulky and powerful.  This doesn't mean
that the kalaripayattu practioner is weak! Actually by the easy
fluidity and mobility of  their muscles they are probably much
stronger than a bulky, slow-moving oriental martial arts practioner
would be.  The master sometimes won't allow his students to graduate
from this preparatory training in even a year.  This is make sure that
the students get the full benefits of this training phase. 

	After this preparatory training, the students graduate to
level where they are taught marma-adi (literally striking of weak
points).  During this phase they are taught to attack various nerve
centers throughout the bodies of opponents using nothing more than a
blunted staff.  They are also taught the processes of reviving an
opponent who has been knocked out.  The third phase of kalaripayattu
training is training in the use of various weapons.  Beginning with
the short staff and quarterstaff, the student will progress to weapons
like spear (kunda) and shield, sword and shield (this art being called
valpayattu), daggers, knifes, battle axes and so on.  The most exotic
of the kalaripayattu weapons is a sort of flexible, coiled sword
(urmi).  This can be  wound up into circles and flicked out at
opponents during a fight.  It is a deadly, lethal weapon and untrained
use of it would probably hurt the opponent and oneself.

	In the next stage of kalaripayattu, deadly arts like killing
and injuring with a single blow are taught.  Trained kalaripayattu
practitioners can easily kill an opponent with nothing more than a
single blow to vital areas of the body.  In the last stage the
grappling techniques, which are the basis of Indian wrestling
techniques, are taught.  Painful, locking holds and devastating
throws, etc. are all taught.  Finally the kalaripayattu practioner is
taught true battle lore and combat techniques.  This would include the
legendary exploits of kalaripayattu heroes like Tacholli Othenan who
had trained in kalaripayattu to the level where he could leap over
fortress walls.  

	One other interesting aspect of kalaripayattu is the annual
kalari festival where the students demonstrate their training before
their masters and elders.  The festival will begin with the same
worship of the practioners weapons that is done during each training
session.  Then spectacular mock fights are staged with all sorts of
barhanded and weaponry techniques.  The most spectacular of these is
the urmi fights were two urmi-wielding stage a breathtaking fight in
which their only defense is their knowledge of the urmi and a shield
attached to one arm.  I have seen one of these and believe me, it is
awesome! 



----------------------------------------------------------------------
HISTORY of kalaripayattu and its relation to the other martial arts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

	It is said that Parashurama (meaning "the wielder of the axe",
his favorite weapon) was an avathar of God.  At one time for some
reason he threw his axe into the sea with such great force that the
sea was in turmoil and tidal waves and and other calamities were
brought out.  In the process, the land now known as Kerala rose from
the sea and joined with the mainland.  Parashurama later instructed
the people of this land in an art of combat and self-defense which is
today known as the art of kalaripayattu. 

	For centuries the practioners of this art were supreme in
combat in India.  Then the art was spread to areas outside of Kerala
but still remained within the boundaries of India.  So, many different
martial arts like that of the Northern style of wrestling and the
martial arts of Nagaland were established. These all traced their
roots back to kalaripayattu. 

	Bodhidharma (Buddha) too learned one of these arts while still
living as a prince in Northern India.  After reaching his salvation
(nirvana) he decided to spread his knowledge to other areas of the
world.  He travelled through Kashmir, Tibet and finally into China.
There a monastery was established by him.  Many monks came to train
under his tutelage and he soon had many resident monks at the
monastery. About this time, dacoits and robbers began to attack the
monastery and loot it.  Bodhidharma and his disciples found themselves
too weak to defend themsleves or the monastery from such attacks. 

	The Buddha then thought back to his younger days in India and
came up with the plan to teach his disciples a series/set of exercises
to help them strengthen their bodies and to help them defend the
monastery.  The techniques worked and soon the dacoits and robbers
were being hard put in their attempts to attack the monastery.  This
system of exercises taught by Bodhidharma is what is today called
kung-fu.  After many centuries, the Chinese themselves developed
various styles and forms of kung-fu. Some of these found their way
into Japan (actually the island of Okinawa) where a new system of
karate was  born.  The Japanese in turn spread their arts to Korea
were Tae Kwon Do was established.  The indirect relationship between
the Korean and Chinese arts is shown by the fact that Tae Kwon Do was
at one time a completely leg-attack based art. This is much like the
kung-fu systems were the legs are still primarily used and were the
use of the hands is secondary. 


Hope you all enjoyed that long history of kalaripayattu and its
relationship to the other martial arts of the world.



Suresh

-- 
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