Astha Vadivu – The Animal Poses

Ashtha Vadivu are the eight basic animal movements adapted into the Kalaripayattu. Animals act on instinct, be it to hunt or to protect themselves or their family. Observing the self-preserving and hunting tactics of animals, our ancestors acknowledged the underlying strength and technicality in them. Picking the most viable fighting techniques, the ancient masters of Kalaripayattu adopted and devised the crouching positions of these animals to defend oneself or attack instantly. These very animal movements also open up the various marma points or the nerve centres and make the body supple and flexible.

1. Varaha or the Wld Boar expands and contracts its body as it moves.
2. Gaja or the Elephant pose generates a force that gathers strength and sturdiness like the animal from the abdominal region to the soles of the feet to stand steady and strong.
3. Marjala or the Cat pose offers simple breath control that helps one fall from any height and still land on feet gracefully and stealthily.
4. Simha or the Lion pose is capable of protection as well as destruction
5. Sarpa or the Snake pose attacks by lifting the body high up while its tail remains firmly planted in the ground. This technique can helps one turn in any direction and attack.
6. Kukkuta or the Rooster pose helps one attack by using all parts of its body, wings, neck, legs, and claws.
7. Mayura or the Peacock pose spreads the plumage gracefully, dancing on one leg, and shifting one’s weight to the other leg, launching the attack by jumping and flying.
8. Ashwa or the Horse pose concentrates the strength centrally to leap up and run fast. Kalaripayattu incorporates the pause, the preparation for the leap, and the final forward movement

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Maithari

Having learnt the basic animal movements, the Kalaripayattu trainee now has to strengthen his or her body and its flexibility. Combat situations demand extremely agile, strong and supple bodies that instantly obey the focused mind. Maithari or the Body Exercises are designed to achieve peak physical fitness, flexibility, and heightened reflexes. The practice of these 18 exercises brings maximum agility to the body, the suppleness, the ability to twist or turn the body in every conceivable manner, and the ability to suddenly leap in the air with ease.

Kolthari – Using Wooden Weapons

Kolthari or the Stick Weapon training is the intermediate stage in Kalaripayattu. This stage is to learn to fight with wooden weapons. There are five main types of wooden weapons - Kettukari, Mucchan, Otta Kol, Gada, and Chotta Chan.

The Kettukari or the Long Stick is a 5 ½ feet long cane stick meant for combat comprised of mainly offensive movements.

The Mucchan or the Short Stick is a 1 ½ feet long or 3-span stick largely meant for defence. The Mucchan training involves powerful blows and blocks with speed.

Next is the Otta Kol or Curved Stick, a 22-inch wooden stick with a knob at one end, the knob meant to thrust at the Marmas or the vital spots of the nervous system during combat. During the practice, the tip of the Otta Kol is rounded since it is the learning phase to aim at the vital points.

Gada or the mace has a historical mention in Mahabharatha, the great Indian epic. It is a 4-feet long heavy weapon which requires strength, agility, and perfect body control to fight with.

Verumkai – Bare-Handed and Other Disarming Techniques

Kalaripayattu practitioner does not depend entirely on weapons. The martial art form has a well-developed system of empty- hand fighting techniques called Verumkai Prayogam, where one learns to face and defeat armed and unarmed opponents.

Verumkai techniques are meant to block attacks using physical power, to avoid or dodge attacks, and to utilize the opponents speed and power and turn these attributes to defend one’s self. These exercises prepare the trainee to save himself or herself from unexpected assaults, to outwit and to eventually defeat the opponent, whether armed or otherwise.

Ankathari – Weapon Combat

Once the trainee has gained expertise in the wooden weapons and bare-handed combat, he or she moves to yet another lethal level - to use the metallic weapons.

This section of Kalaripayattu is called Ankathari, the practice of deadly weapons like spear, sword and shield. The most dangerous of them all is Urumi or the flexible sword. Historically, Ankathari was practised by the military, the warrior class, to protect the state and the king.

Ankathari weapon training involves 18 successive lessons or Adavus. Each Adavu is a combination of certain techniques, a coordination of characteristic step patterns with complex movements of the body. Each Adavu starts with a unique salutation or yoga movement. The uniqueness of those salutations is meant to bring the necessary balance between body and mind, and enhance the required reflexes as necessary for that particular weapon. The crouching positions of the Lion, the Elephant and the cat movements are widely used.

Present Day Kalaripayattu

In the modern times, the ancient martial art of Kalaripayattu with its weaponry and treatment techniques has grown relevant with renewed significance. In ancient south India, Kalaripayattu was used as a war form. Combat situations demanded extremely agile, strong, and supple bodies, which constantly obeyed the focused mind. The ancient warriors used Kalaripayattu to prime their bodies and sharpen their reflexes. The present day fast life too requires us to remain the warriors of sorts. Kalaripayattu is an essential way of life, integral in enhancing mental stability and increasing physical performance skills.

Kalaripayattu is now growing beyond its martial art form. Its characteristic fighting techniques, physical exercises, and mental discipline are being adopted by international dancers, theatre artists, and film personalities to gain flexibility, split-second reflexes, and to develop presence of mind and confidence. The multi-faceted art form has become a way of self-expression. It has become a way of life.