Kalaripayattu: Difference between revisions

Like most [[Indian martial arts]], Kalaripayattu contains rituals and philosophies inspired by [[Hinduism]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Mukherjee|first1=Indrani|last2=Sen|first2=Sanghita|date=31 May 2017|title=The Kalaripayattu and the Capoeira as Masculine Performances|url=https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/19729/Sen_2017_Between_Kalaripayattu_VoR_CCBY.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|journal=Between |publisher=University of St. Andrew  |volume=7|issue=13|page=4|issn=2039-6597}}</ref> The art also bases medical treatments upon concepts found in the ancient Indian medical text, the [[Ayurveda]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name="Zarrilli1" /> Practitioners of Kalaripayattu possess intricate knowledge of pressure points on the human body and healing techniques that incorporate the knowledge of Ayurveda and Yoga.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 October 2009|title=Kalaripayattu And Shaolin Kung Fu - The Malta Independent|url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2009-10-18/news/kalaripayattu-and-shaolin-kung-fu-264899/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-07|website=www.independent.com.mt|publisher=[[The Malta Independent]]}}</ref> Kalaripayattu is taught in accordance with the Indian ''[[Guru–shishya tradition|guru-shishya]]'' system.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|last=Khullar|first=Gagan|date=25 June 2019|title=The ancient martial art of Kalaripayattu in Delhi|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/fitness/the-ancient-martial-art-of-kalaripayattu-in-delhi/article28136442.ece|access-date=21 December 2020}}</ref> Kalaripayattu differs from many other martial arts systems in the world in that weapon based techniques are taught first, and barehanded techniques are taught last.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Francis|first1=Jibin|last2=Christadoss|first2=B. Beneson Thilager|date=April 2020|title=An Appraisal of Kalarippayattu and Its Association with the Culture of Kerala|url=http://www.bodhijournals.com/pdf/V4N3/Bodhi_V4N3_009.pdf|journal=Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science|volume=4|issue=3|pages=1–2}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

Elements from the yoga tradition as well as finger movements in the ''nata'' dances, were incorporated into Kalaripayattu.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|last=Akundi|first=Sweta|date=30 July 2018|title=The 'kalari' burner|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/fitness/the-kalari-burner/article24551272.ece|access-date=21 December 2020}}</ref> A number of [[South Asia|South Asian]] fighting styles remain closely connected to [[yoga]], dance and performing arts. Some of the choreographed sparring in Kalaripayattu can be applied to dance<ref name="Zarrilli1998">{{cite book |last=Zarrilli |first=Phillip B. |title=When the Body Becomes All Eyes: Paradigms, Discourses and Practices of Power in Kalarippayattu, a South Indian Martial Art |year=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0-19563-940-7}}</ref> and [[Kathakali]] dancers who knew Kalaripayattu were believed to be markedly better than other performers. Some traditional Indian classical dance schools still incorporate martial arts as part of their exercise regimen.<ref name="Luijendijk 08">Luijendijk, D.H. (2008) ''[https://www.amazon.com/dp/1409226263 Kalarippayat: The Essence and Structure of an Indian Martial Art]'', Oprat, {{ISBN|978-1-4092-2626-0}}</ref>  

In 1804, the British banned Kalaripayattu in [[Kerala]] in response to the [[Cotiote War|Kottayathu War]], a rebellion against British rule in Kerala lead by the Keralite king [[Pazhassi Raja]]. The ban came into effect shortly after Pazhassi Raja's death on November 30th, 1805, resulting in the closure of most of the major ''kalari'' training grounds in Kerala. Following the ban, many Keralite [[Guru|''gurukkals'']] of Kalaripayattu resisted the ban and continued to teach Kalaripayattu to their students in secret. ''Gurukkals'' such as Kottakkal Kanaran Gurukkal, Kovilkandi Kelu Kurup Gurukkal and Maroli Ramunni Gurukkal, learned and preserved the martial art for posterity and were responsible for preserving Kalaripayattu into the beginning of the twentieth century, as well as sparking the revival of Kalaripayattu in Kerala in the 1920s.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":9" />   

In January of 2021, the [[Government of Kerala]] announced the opening of The Kalaripayattu Academy in [[Kerala]]'s capital, [[Thiruvananthapuram|Thiruvanathapuram]], under the management of the [[Department of Tourism (Kerala)|Kerala Department of Tourism]].<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":13">{{Cite news|date=10 January 2021|title=Kerala govt to set up Kalaripayattu Academy to boost traditional martial art form|work=[[Yahoo! News]]|url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/kerala-govt-set-kalaripayattu-academy-062937244.html|access-date=18 June 2021}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite news|date=10 January 2021|title=Kerala govt to set up Kalaripayattu Academy to boost traditional martial art form|work=[[Asian News International]]|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/kerala-govt-to-set-up-kalaripayattu-academy-to-boost-traditional-martial-art-form20210110115811/|access-date=18 June 2021}}</ref> The Kalaripayattu Academy will comprise an area of 3,500 feet, and will be part of the Vellar Crafts Village. The Kalaripayattu classes will be taught by a group of ''gurukkals'' from Kerala, lead by [[Meenakshi Amma|Sri Meenakshi Amma]], a Kalaripayattu ''gurukkal'' and Padma Sri recipient. The Kalaripayattu Academy will initially teach 100 students, both adults and children, in both morning and evening classes. [[Chief minister (India)|Chief Minister]] [[Pinarayi Vijayan]] is set to announce the syllabus of the academy in 2021.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":13" /><ref name=":14" />

Historically, all Keralites of the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] community, men and women alike, would undergo mandatory training in Kalaripayattu beginning at the age of 7 or 9 and lasting until the end of their education.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cvnkalari.in/training.html|title=....#CVN KALARI#....|website=cvnkalari.in|access-date=2019-12-10}}</ref> By the 11th century AD, members of other communities also began practicing the art.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Sujatha|first1=M|last2=Jose|first2=K. G|date=15 July 2015|title=Health tourism with reference to Kalari|url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/45120/8/08_introduction.pdf|access-date=21 December 2020|website=Shodh Ganga - A Reservoir of Indian Theses|publisher=Mahatma Gandhi University|page=19}}</ref> According to noted historian Professor A. Sreedharan Menon, "each ''desam'' or locality had a kalari with a guru at its head and both boys and girls received physical training in it."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nair|first=Supriya Unni|date=6 February 2016|title=Defying age with a sword: Meenakshi Gurrukkal, Kerala's grand old Kalaripayattu dame|work=[[The News Minute]]|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/defying-age-sword-meenakshi-gurrukkal-keralas-grand-old-kalaripayattu-dame-38620|access-date=21 December 2020}}</ref> Warriors, soldiers and others who wanted to pursue a martial career would continue their training for the rest of their lives. Generally, two styles of Kalaripayattu are acknowledged among Kalari practitioners: the Northern Style and the Southern Style.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://kalaripayattuclass.com/about-kalaripayattu/|title=About Kalaripayattu|website=Kalaripayattu Class|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-10}}</ref>  These two systems have marked similarities in their styles or ''vazhi'' ("way" or "method" in Malayalam), such as ''Hanuman Vazhi'', ''Bhiman Vazhi'', and ''Bali Vazhi'' among others.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book|last=John|first=Shaji K|url=https://www.academia.edu/29708005|title=Kalaripayattu: The Martial and Healing Arts of Kerala|publisher=[[Academia.edu]]|year=2011|isbn=|location=Kottayam, Kerala|pages=19–20}}</ref> Each style, or ''vazhi'', in Kalaripayattu has a different purpose. For instance, ''Hanuman Vazhi ("''The Way of [[Hanuman]]" in Malayalam) is a style that places emphasis on speed and technical application, along with several techniques to trick or outwit an enemy. ''Bali Vazhi'', ("The Way of [[Vali (Ramayana)|Bali]]" in Malayalam) focuses on using the opponent's technical applications against them in such a way that it becomes dangerous to the opponent themselves. In ''Bhiman Vazhi ("''The Way of [[Bhima|Bhiman]]" in Malayalam), the usage of physical strength is predominant.<ref name=":7" /> The styles are variations that various masters have adapted and modified according to their understanding of the art. Development and mastery of Kalaripayattu comes from the tradition of constantly learning, adapting and improving the techniques by observing what techniques are practical and effective. While importance is placed on observation of tradition, Kalaripayattu ''gurukkuls'' have contributed to the evolution of Kalaripayattu by way of their experience and reasoning.<ref>{{Cite book|last=John|first=Shaji K|url=https://www.academia.edu/29708005|title=Kalaripayattu: The Martial and Healing Art of Kerala|publisher=[[Academia.edu]]|year=2011|isbn=|location=Kottayam, Kerala|pages=19}}</ref> A Kalari practitioner might encounter new fighting techniques from an enemy combatant. The Kalari practitioner would need to learn how to anticipate, adapt to and neutralize these new techniques. This is especially seen in the Southern style of Kalaripayattu, which is believed to have been adapted and modified during wars with [[Tamils|Tamil]] kingdoms to counter martial arts like [[Silambam]], which was one of the main martial art forms practiced by Tamil soldiers at the time.

Kottakkal Kanaran Gurukkal (1850-1935), the [[Guru|''gurukkal'']] of Chambadan Veetil Narayanan Nair. Korrakkal Kanaran Gurukkal is recognized as one of the ''gurukkals'' who preserved Kalaripayattu in [[Kerala]] and allowed it to survive into the twentieth century after studying it from several gurukkals in the [[Malabar Coast|Malabar]] region of the state.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Gopalakrishnan|first=K. k|date=2018-10-04|title=Meet the Malabar warrior, S.R.D. Prasad Gurukkal|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/meet-the-malabar-warrior-kalarippayattu-exponent-srd-prasad-gurukkal/article25122777.ece|access-date=2021-05-23|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite news|last=Gopalakrishnan|first=K. K.|date=2011-02-10|title=King of Kalarippayattu|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/King-of-Kalarippayattu/article15285978.ece|access-date=2021-05-23|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

''Little Kalari Warriors'', a cartoon made by [[Toonz Animation India]] for [[Cartoon Network (Indian TV channel)|Cartoon Network]], features Kalaripayattu practitioners as the principal characters. Kalaripayattu is also seen in the Indian animated film ''[[Arjun: The Warrior Prince]]'' (2012). In the Indian [[role-playing game]] ''Ashwathama — The Immortal'', which is based on [[Hindu mythology|Indian mythology]], the fight scenes were choreographed using Kalaripayattu, with the movements of the characters being [[motion capture|motion captured]] from real Kalaripayattu masters.  

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI84oM_bJeg Kalaripayattu: The First Martial Art]