Thing about being a South Asian historian is that I am so clueless about South Asia. Like about Kalarippayattu. Did I even have an inkling about this mother of Kung Fu? How could I have not known about this bucket-of-oily-goodness South Indian Martial Art? I knew about pehlwani and silambam but nothing about this? How uncooool.
An accidental discovery of a book at Powell’s has opened my eyes. I have been obssessed with the video clips -especially, that one. I want Spike Jonze to direct the Drunken Guru starring the Tony Jaa of Tamil Nadu.
Kalarippayattu literally means ‘place’ where ‘exercises’ are practiced. As a form of physical and martial training, it has been prevalent in Kerala since at least the 12th century. Zarrilli tells us that Brahmans of Kerala in the eleventh century had had enough of Chola aggression and took up arms to fight against them. Or conversely, it developed in the sudra caste of indigenous Nayars during the same time period. The Nayar caste provided retainers, soldiers, and administrators for the Nambudiri brahmins, and were the largest group with rights to bear arms. They could also do some mean triple lutzes in the air before hitting you with the sword. When the Portugese reached south India, they were surprised to see the Nayars walking around with open swords and giving them mean looks.
It was the 1920s and that pesky colonialism that really invented Kalarippayattu. Kottakkal Karnaran Gurukkal [1850-35] and, his student, C.V. Narayanan Nayar [1905-44] created a showcase of the techniques for public performance highlighting the heroic past of Kerala and its many heroes. Kalarippayattu connected with the native audiences with its evocations of “ancient” techniques and incorporation of the mythology of the Mahabharata. From there, it morphed into the 5,000 year old fighting technique and became the mother of all martial arts etc. Funny thing, that colonialism.
unrelated: What is walking pneumonia? I am fine. really. Have a good weekend, gentle readers.
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If you’ve seen Peter Brook’s Mahabharata you will recognize some of the elaborate and elegant movements, especially in the preparation for one-on-one combat.
oh i saw an amazing display of kalaripayattu on the way from bangalore to mysore. it was some sort festival near tipu sultan’s summer palace. very cool. some years later, in the anuradhapura, sri lanka- i went to a museum where we saw small carvings of the chola kings practicing the martial art. these weren’t too laudatory, as the sinhala hated the invading cholas.
sending (emailed:sepoy@chapatimystery.com) a picture of Bodhidharma (Father of Kalarippayattu). Enjoy.
Have you been doing any reading on “Varma Kalai” ? It’s the Kalari Payattu equivalent of the Vulcan nerve pinch. There are purpotedly masters of Kalari who can disable, even kill with precise hits to nerve centers, sometimes even from a few feet away without making any physical contact.
The Zarrilli book has a little bit on the Varma Kalai. Absolutely brilliant, I say.
Wow, pretty fascinating.
Why is it not more recognized (I’ve read tons of martial arts books, and never heard of it)?
It looks like good exercise, but I’m not sure about the practical fighting applications. There are really only two fighting styles that consistantly win inter-art competitions: Thai kickboxing (muy thai) and Japanese judo (or variations of it, such as ju-jitsu). All others, like karate, kung fu, etc. get taken down very quickly.
Also–Vulcan death grips, or anything similar, just don’t exist. There are no disabling nerve centers. You can hit someone hard enough to knock them out, or you can strangle/choke them. Hurting people is not that easy.
Great videos!
Hi,
I need the training centres of Varma kalai in Tamilnadu and kerala. Can you pls. provide it.
Regards,
Subburaj
Hai,
I need the training centres of Varma kalai in Tamilnadu and kerala. Can you pls. provide it.
dear sir,
my cousin sister has a small problems in her knees nerves. it affects all bodies of back side and right hand now it is creat a pain in head nerves, some one had advised to her this problems will be setright only thro the varmam(treatment in varmakalai) Is it possible for curing such prob.pl tell us where can i get the informn and who are the persons to cantact. kindly help us to getrid of the prob pl.
thanking you
yours faithfully,
manjulamani.D
Hi,
I am portuguese and I am planning to go to India to learn martial arts.
Does any one knows a good school of Kuthuvarisai and Varma Kalai?
Does anyone have informations about Vajra-Mushti? Does it still exist in this days?
with best regards,
Atmaram
hi, i am a martial arts instructor in NY .from KERALA the birth pl,of kalari every year iam going with my fri&stude.the next trip 2007 any one intr;;pl e m; sajikannadan@yahoo.com
Hi this is Rajesh from Chennai, I need the training centres of Varma kalai in Tamilnadu and kerala. Can you please help me out. I need to take some treatments for my back pain.
Thanks
Rajesh
hai i like to learn varmakalai and silambattam
any good coach in tamilnadu
with regards,
S. Rajendran
hai, i need varmakalai centres in chennai please
i am very much interest to know about the varma kalai and interest to learn this art would pl give a address at chennai
Hi,
My name is jayan
I can talk about kalari and marma kalai, If you want!
is there any training centre available in chennai to learn varmakkalai?
Hi,
Am shyam from bangalore. I would love to learn varmakalai. I am now in bangalore. Wish to know the learning institutions which could take the course as part time. Can you plz provide me?
hi all,
I see lot of people very eager to learn kuthu varisai.
I am the student of varma asan kannan from chennai. My great guru Rajendran asan is a great exponent of kuthu varisai. These two persons were the one who helped in the Indian film , with the varma stuff.
I am now in australia, so if u need to learn varma kalai especially kuthu varisai, please mail me ur details to leokannan@gmail.com.
You can learn from chennai or madurai.
Looking forward for your reply.
Let us all join together and protect the great indian martial arts – varma kalai from becoming extinct.
Thanks
kannan.R
can u send me details of some good teaching centers in kerala and tamil nadu
can u send me details of your branch or your recogonized teaching centers only in tamilnadu.
hi all
if any one need a book on varma kalai , please mail me to leokannan@gmail.com, my master is currently teaching varma kalai in chennai. he has written a book named “yogam mudal varmam varai” which includes yoga, silambam, kuthu varisai techniques. It is more of a practical book for learnign varma kalai. I am currently working on the english translation of the same.
thanks
kannan
Dear Sir,
Could you Please tell me varma school or Class in Chennai and Tamil Nadu,
Dear Sir,i have lot of nervous problem i want to lean about varmakkalai,this may leave i want to learn this varmakkalai please help me sir
M SILAMBARASAN
CELL: 9787455877
MY NATIVE PLACE TIRUPPATTUR(VELLORE DISTRICT),TAMILNADU
Hi, Im basically from Kanyakumari. Master in varmakkalai & silambam. I learned this art from my grand father. It is a very dangerous art. So we are hidding this art. Currently im in bangalore. Im looking for a good student for me. If peoples realy interested mail to me elangose@gmail.com
Dear Atmaram,
I can guide you pls mail to elangose@gmail.com
Hi,
For people in bangalore, you can visit the http://www.kalaripayattubangalore.com/
Regards
Nanda
HI
i like to learn varmakalai IN CHENNAI PLEAS I WANT CONTACT (TEL OR ADDRESS
hi can you give me the training centres in bangalore??
vanakkam
i am from tamilnadu and i am interested in learning “varmakalai” if any one know about the guru ,plz inform me .
hi i am leonardo ,in bangalore can any one teach me marmakala and kalariyapattu varma kalai…..please if any one teach me i am thankful to them.
HI
We are runnig a varmakalai training centre in chennai.
PLease call 9444043473 for more details.
We are also teaching secret martial arts
Hi,
please can u provide the training center of martial art in karnataka at tumkur
Dear friends,
currently im teaching varmakalai in Kanyakumari and Trivandrum(kerala). Lot of peoples are very interested to learn this art. But they cant spend more time to learn this art in there machine life. With their kind request im teaching this art through email. The practical classes are conducting in Chennai & Bangalore. So peoples realy interested to learn Varmakalai Can browse this link http://ayushtech.com/varmakalai/
I have done my basic shaolin from henan province for 5 years and now i am looking for a asana of verma kalai. i will prove to be the best student ever just like eklavya i can give any guru dakshina any fees feel free to talk to me if any true guru help .
hai, am in chennai. i want to learn kuthuvarisai. could u please tell the place where it is teaching.
Can you give me an address where they teach the art of Kalarippayattu in Chennai – preferably near Santhome
respected sir,
i am sankar.i want to learn MARMASASHTRAM because any one know about marma accadamys&books please send details to my mail.special request to all please.
Is there anyone in Phoenix, AZ that can teach Varma Kalai?
Thank you.
Michele
i want to learn silambam and varmakkali in chennai.Please guide me.Please email to me.
thanks.
Hi
I am rajasekar. I am really interested in learning dis art of Varmam. Sir please send in a good learning center in Chennai to this mail address rajasmacks2008@gmail.com
respected sir,
i am hemant suresh shiral living in nashik district maharashtra. i am realy willing to learn kalari payattam but till now i didt got any master who will teach me.i want to come to kerala and meet you.
thanking you.
yours faithfully,
hemant shiral
my contact no 0091-9765536218
email add hemant.shiral@rediffmail.com
no one r giving the correct information about varmakalai training in chennai.please show the address of training centre.
Respected sir,
i am prasanth from chidambaram of cuddalore district in tamilnadu. i had severe problem il low back pain from last year still now for me no cure i had consulted with neurologist also. i need ur adress for me i will come there for treatment sir so please give me ur adress sir.
thanking you,
yours truly,
prasanth
phone no:09488323492
mail id prasanth_dynamic@yahoo.co.in
Hi
w e are conducting 1 day practical seminar ON VARMAKALAI at chennai and other parts. For details contact 9841160605
BOTH ON THERAPY AND SELFDEFENSE ASPECT
hi i am interested varmakalai .pls give me a fundamentals of varmakalai , books and post training.
sir,
I am a resident of Kannur and like to learn varmakalai. Please furnish me full address and phone nos. of any person/institution rendering varmakali.
Zakir Hussain
I AM AN INDIAN I LIVE IN CHERNNAI AND I WANT TO LEARN VARMA KALAI
I want to learn varmakalai
where
I need the training centres of Varma kalai in Tamilnadu and kerala. Can you pls. provide it.
hi we are providing special varma treatment for all arthritis and neurological diseases and offering special varmakalari martial art courses to dedicated faithful students at u v m siddha clinic,49/28 first floor, T.nagar,chennai-17
HI I am from Nagercoil currently working Bahrain. If anyone want to learn Nadan Adi and varmam please contact me. h_nazar@hotmail.com
Hai friends,
I am Learning varmakalai from renowned master “Kannan Asaan”, who is expert in teaching adi varisai, pedi varisai, ari varisai, vital points and treatment and he put up in chennai. If anyone interested to learn varmakalai,
contact me at 9894388423 (or)
master mobile number:9787851275
DEAR ELANGO I WAS EAGERLY AWATING TO LEARN VARMA KALAI PLEASE CAN YOU TEACH ME I WILL BE SURE FAITHFUL TO YOU MOBILE 9626970208
Dears….
I am in chennai, I would like to learn varma kalai, I am bleck belt in New chinese Power Kungfu, prapably in north chennai will be nice.
my conact Ln 25952750, 25950188, cell 9840470440
hi, we are providing special treatment for all varma disorders,arthritis,neurological diseases and nerve injuries.also giving special varmakalari martial art training to faithful and dedicated persons.contact-dr.p.aybin raj,49/28,first floor,south usman road,t.nagar.chennai-17.ph-09282226094,email-aybinrajp@yahoo.co.in
I don’t know where you and Philip Zarilli get these ideas. Essentially, this is another Western twist to the Eastern history. The mother of many martials arts, including Kalari, is a mixture Tamilian martial arts, starting from Varma Kalai, Silambam, Adithoda, Kuthuvarisai, Malyuttham etc. Almost all martial arts you see today, Kalari, Gong-fu, Muay Thai, Kali etc. are either an offshoot or local art heavily influenced by Tamilian martial arts. Cheras, Cholas were enemies but there were times of peace and alliances when all these martial arts were taught across borders. In all these forms, Kalari and Gong-Fu (what you know as Kung Fu) are the direct descendents of Tamilian martial arts. Gong Fu was created by Shaolin monks based on the martial arts taught by Bodhi Dharma, the founder of Zen and a Tamilian prince. Kalari is just a last surviving bit of Tamilian martial arts. Most of these martial arts declined because they were either outlawed, hidden and the knowledge held back, which only makes sense because in the wrong hands, this is a dangerous weapon. Imagine the intimate knowledge of human body! This was developed by Siddhas or Tamilian Alchemists/Medicos. In fact, the founder of the great Siddha Lineage, Saint Agasthya is the founder of all these martial arts. The intimate knowledge of human body is a speciality of Siddhas and the medical art became a martial art, thus giving us the various martial arts as we know it.
hi all,
Seminar about varmakalai and their treatment, going to be held.
Interested candidate can send your resume to my mail (thiyagutrack@gmail.com).
Candidate should be either from martial arts background or physiotherapy and medicinal background.The seminar will be definitely beneficial to your career.
you can send your queries to the above mentioned mail regarding seminar.
Location : Chennai
Phone Number:9894388423, 9787851275
Guys
Kalari/kalaripayattu is still practices well in kerala. CVN Kalari is one of the famous one in kerala. A branch of CVN Kalari is in bangalore too. But remember one thing. No one will teach you marma(Not varma kalari) in one or two days. And the masters will teach you the nerve related techniques only after years of hard work and if they think that you deserves it. And this cannot be used for your evil needs as well. If some one needs to know more send mail to dipud_d@yahoo.com.
NB : I am also practicing kalari for some years. I can lead you to our master
Hello Sir, I am very eager to learn this Art(kalari payattu, varmakalai).Please guide me.
this is my mail id sp.anbarasan@gmail.com