Kalaripayattu

KALARIPAYATTU is a martial art. It resembles the karate of Japan. It incorporates a variety of physical exercise, which includes scientific methods of attack and defence, using a variety of weapons. The four disciplines of KALARI are designed to promote not only physical fitness but also bestows grace of carriage, endurance and stamina as well as mastery of vital points in the human body. Students of KALARI masters the arts of hitting without getting hit, a form of self-defence sans weapons.

Students of KALARIPAYATTU have to use different kinds of swords. One requires will power, accuracy and a very keen sense of martial art to use the ribbon like flexible sword called URUMI. VADAKKAM PATTUKAL the special kind of songs very popular in the MALABAR area describe the heroic deeds of THACHOLI OTHENAN, UNNIYARCHA, PALATTU KOMAN etc. They were experts in martial arts and used swords with perfect dexterity.  Among them UNNIYARCHA was the most courageous woman and legendary heroine who could defeat anyone in sword fighting.

The stylized KALARI steps are incorporated in the folk dance form known as VELAKALI. Even the fading circus tradition which is dominated by MALAYALIS is an offshoot of KALARI tradition. Kerala was the breeding ground for circus artists in the past. The first circus training institute was started in THALASSERY in 1901.

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