Training body and mind: Kalaripayattu

One of the first things that a Kalaripayattu student learns is to get maximum agility for his body.

This ancient martial art of Kerala focuses on the synchronous training of body and mind. Hence many consider this ancient art as the most scientific and systematic of its kind.

Co-ordination of mind and body is the key of Kalaripayattu training. A system of scientifically arranged and well graded series of exercises is part of the training.

These exercises, formulated by the ancient masters of Kalaripayattu, are for achieving maximum physical agility.

Physical training is known as Meypayattu (mey means body in local parlance and payattu, exercise).

Rigorous exercises are there for hand, legs and other body parts.

Twelve kinds of exercises are there for legs. There are also regulations on how to perform leaps and jumps.

Basic exercises like iruthikkaal and soochikkiruthal are also performed as part of the exercises.

The video is taken from CVN Kalari, Thiruvananthapuram.

There is also a scientific medicine system called Kalarichikilsa associated with this martial art. Kalarichikilsa, the herbal medicine system is highly effective for bruises and sprains.

There are two styles of Kalaripayattu; the North Kerala and South Kerala styles.