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.
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