Kalarippayatt: Vedic Martial Art
Kalarippayatt is one of the great martial arts of India. Not many people are aware of India’s vast heritage of armed and unarmed fighting arts, but in recent years Kalarippayatt has become better known.
Kalarippayatt (Kalari) literally means ‘battle ground training’. The foremost practitioner and teacher of Kalari in the UK is Paul Whitrod, who runs a full time martial arts centre in the busy Stratford area of London. Paul specialises in the ‘Tekkan’ or ‘Southern’ style of Kalari. The other famous style of Kalari is the ‘Vadakan’, or ‘Northern’ Kalari. According to traditional beliefs, the famous sage Agastya was the founder of the Tekkan system, while Parshuram (the wrathful Avatar of Lord Vishnu) founded the Vadakan style.
June 30th, 2006 at 4:46 am
namaskar,
i have been searching for details of where kalaripayattu is been taught. though i have not done a detailed study on it i would want to learn it in the coming years.
i am fond of the great warriors of the past who used to climb mountains and fight for our country.
i am at present doing my MBA. i am in my second year i would like to learn this fighting art in the coming years.
can you give me the required guidance for it.
looking forward for your mail.
sita pailla
July 1st, 2006 at 12:26 am
^^^ It would help if u told us all what country you live in at the moment. How can anybody suggest a place to you to learn it otherwise. For example, if you are living in London, it isn’t going to be helpful telling you about a school in Kerala or vice versa!
July 11th, 2006 at 7:16 pm
Nihang Niddar Singh teaches traditional Indian martial art of Shastar-vidiya in the UK. He’ll teach anyone who is a law abiding and sensible citizen. If you wish to learn the fighting styles of the gods (Varaha, Sheshnag, Narsingha etc.) then click on the following link: http://www.shastarvidiya.org/
Site is down, but click on link on bottom of page.
July 12th, 2006 at 12:31 am
Its unfortunate there hasn’t been much discussion raised on this great martial arts article. You’d think that a people who had been continuoulsy invaded for nearly 1000 years would value the knowledge of Vedic martial arts? What does the Vedas lack?
October 27th, 2006 at 5:41 am
I had been in teaching kalaripayat for past 22 years. I have acquired knowledge in the Southern(Thekkan) style of kalaripayat founded by sage Agasthya more than 2000 years ago. I have knowledge of various body techniques like locks, steps, shows( premeditated practice with a partner), stick techniques, short sticks, long staff fights, rotation skills, Weapon training like single knife combat, double knife combat, trident(trishul), axe(mazhu), single and double sword, sword & shield, spear, urumi(flexible sword), shuriken(chakra), idi katta(punching block of metal with spikes), kadhara(dagger with hand cover), Marma vadi(short stick - 6 Inches long used on vital spots of body), Marma techniques(vital spot application using various mudras(sysbols of hand forms), empty hand technique against all above weapons, Ayurvedic and siddha treatments, traditional kalari style massage using herbal oils (hand and foot). can prepare herbal oils and medicines by self. Also I know many secret shastras(science) of the prophets or saints and lot more.
What I expect from you is a chance to teach in U.K at your Martial art centre. You will gain a lot by providing me a visa. All other conditions we can negotiate.
Mobile no: 091-009847553600
November 17th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Came acroos this page while searching for indian martial arts.Unfortunately I saw the response from Mathew PC claiming knowledge and teaching more than a handful of techniques. Unfortunatly the truth is that this guy is fooling around for a long time cheating people offering the best in Indian martial art. It is people like him bring disrepute to Indian martial arts and culture. Please verify the credentials of persons who make tall claims before allowing them to post place like this
Manirengan
February 9th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Hi!
I’m a Krsna devotee and Kunf Fu practitioner from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I wish to join these two passions into Kalarippayatt. Is there any way I can learn at a distance? Or get more info about this art?
Thanks.
Kind regards,
Hare Krsna!