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Vadakkan Pattukal Chekavar

Kalaripayattu is an ancient martial art originating in Kerala, India that is based on Hindu and Ayurvedic principles. It was practiced by both men and women as a means of self-defense and protection. There are two major styles, the Northern and Southern styles, which differ somewhat in their training methods and techniques with weapons versus hand-to-hand combat. Kalaripayattu continues to be practiced today, preserving ancient traditions while also adapting techniques over time based on practical experience in combat.

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Rajiv Bhatia
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495 views2 pages

Vadakkan Pattukal Chekavar

Kalaripayattu is an ancient martial art originating in Kerala, India that is based on Hindu and Ayurvedic principles. It was practiced by both men and women as a means of self-defense and protection. There are two major styles, the Northern and Southern styles, which differ somewhat in their training methods and techniques with weapons versus hand-to-hand combat. Kalaripayattu continues to be practiced today, preserving ancient traditions while also adapting techniques over time based on practical experience in combat.

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Rajiv Bhatia
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Kalaripayattu is also mentioned in the Vadakkan Pattukal ballads written about

the Chekavar from the Malabar region of Kerala. The author Arnaud Van Der Veere
confers the origin of martial arts to India (the roots of which are thought to be in
Kalaripayattu), to which he refers to Kalaripayattu as "The Mother of All Martial Arts".
[3] Kalaripayattu is a martial art designed for the ancient battlefield (the word "Kalari"
meaning "battlefield"), with weapons and combative techniques that are unique to India.
Like most other Indian martial arts, Kalaripayattu draws heavily from Hinduism, and is
based on Hindu medicinal concepts found in Ayurveda. Practitioners of Kalaripayattu
possess intricate knowledge of pressure points on the human body and healing
techniques that incorporate the knowledge of Ayurveda and Yoga. Students are taught
the martial art as a way of life, with a sense of compassion, discipline, and respect
toward the master, fellow-students, parents and the community. Particular emphasis is
placed on avoiding confrontational situations and using the martial art only as a means
of protection, when no other alternative is available.
Unlike other parts of India, warriors in Kerala belonged to all castes.[4] Women in
Keralite society also underwent training in Kalaripayattu, and still do so to this day.
Keralite women such as Unniyarcha are mentioned in a collection of ballads from Kerala
called the Vadakkan Pattukal, and are praised for their martial prowess.
In 2017, Sri Meenakshi Amma, a 73 year old gurukkal from Vadakara, was awarded
the Padma Sri by the Government of India for her contributions to the preservation of
Kalaripayattu.[5][6]
There are two major styles that are generally acknowledged within traditional
Kalaripayattu. They are the Northern style, or Vadakkan Kalari, and the Southern style,
or Thekkan Kalari.[7]
A newer style of Kalaripayattu called the Central style, or Madhya Kalari, which claims to
combine elements of the Northern and Southern styles of Kalaripayattu is also being
taught in Kerala. The legitimacy of this style is controversial due to its recent
development and the lack of consensus of its existence amongst Kalaripayattu
practitioners.[8]
A smaller, regional style of Kalaripayattu called Tulunadan Kalari, is referenced in texts
such as the Vadakkan Pattukal, but it is largely restricted to the Tulu Nadu region in
northern Kerala and southern Karnataka.
Other smaller, regional styles are also said to exist in isolated regions of Kerala, but
these styles are becoming increasingly rare, and difficult to find.

Historically, all Keralites of the 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.[17] 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.[7] These two systems are quite similar, but their training methods begin
to diverge to specialize in either weapons or hand-to-hand combat. 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. There is a great amount of respect and
observation of tradition which allows the preservation of the art. The knowledge and
experience gained by the practitioners is improved upon by subsequent masters who
utilize keen observation, research of various techniques and variations to update the
knowledge. The adaptability of Kalaripayattu is largely due to Kalaripayattu being
designed for use in warfare and combat. 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 Tamil kingdoms to counter martial arts like Silambam, which
was one of the main martial art forms practiced by Tamil soldiers at the time.
[18] Kalaripayattu is ultimately taught not just as a martial art, but as a way of life that
epitomizes respect, compassion and duty over all else.[19]
Northern style
The Northern style is also known as, Vadakkan Kalari, and is generally regarded as the
"original," form of Kalaripayattu. This system places more emphasis on physical
flexibility exercises and strength training rooted on the slogan Meyy kanavanam,
meaning, "make the body an eye." These exercises are done individually, as well as in
combinations. After that meypayattu (a concept similar to kata in Karate) is taught. These
are a combination of flexibility exercises with offensive and defensive techniques,
however, the actual techniques are taught very much later. Traditionally, the number
of meypayattu may differ as per the teaching methods of the Guru. After the student
learns meypayattu, stick fighting is taught. Generally, the majority of the Kalaris (schools
that teach Kalaripayattu) start training with weapons within 3 to 6 months. Some Kalaris
only allow one weapon to be learned per year. After long stick and small stick fighting,
iron weapons are introduced. Training begins with the dagger, sword and then the
spear. Not all modern schools use specialized weapons. Traditionally, bows and arrows
were commonly used in Kerala and students were trained in these techniques, but is
rarely taught today.[20]
Kalaripayattu has three forms, which are distinguished by their attacking and defensive
patterns. They are Arappa Kayy, Pilla Thangi, and Vatten Thiripp.[21]

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