WAYANAD, Kerala: Every year Vani Uma Krishnan looks forward to the Vijayadashami festival to publicly demonstrate her fighting, weapon, and self-defense skills — all polished through the rigorous practice of kalaripayattu, one of the world’s oldest martial arts.
Kalaripayattu, often called kalari, is believed to have originated around the third century B.C. on India’s southwest coast, in what is now the state of Kerala. It is a complete combat system with physical and spiritual training.
The practice combines strikes, kicks, grappling, preset forms, weaponry, healing methods, and meditation. Unlike in many other martial arts, students first learn weapon-based techniques before barehanded fighting. They train fluid movements inspired by animal postures, and also meditation.
Like most children in Kerala, Vani, now 14, has been practicing kalari from a very young age.
“I first fell in love with kalari when I was 7 years old. I have seen all these videos of people flying and being able to be so agile and block any offense … That was the closest thing to being a superhero for me,” she told Arab News.
One of the most famous collections of medieval warrior ballads in Malayalam, the native language of Kerala, is “Vadakkan Pattukal,” which presents stories of heroes and heroines who are adept in fighting and in the use of arms.
“We grew up listening to all those stories, and we have always wished that we could also be like them in a modern world. And kalari is a way for us to also express ourselves,” Vani said.
“Kalari has given me a sense of self-worth. I know my worth, and if I ever have to face anyone, I can surely stand in front of them.”
Dressed in traditional red and black fighting gear, she was attending training at Kadathanadan Kalari Sangam, her martial arts school in Wayanad, to celebrate Vijayadashami.
In Kerala, the autumn Hindu festival marking the victory of good over evil is also a day to seek blessings for learning and wisdom.
For Vani’s father, Rajesh Krishnan, who also practiced kalari as a child, enrolling her in classes was a most natural thing to do.
“Kalari is a part and parcel of our culture … thankfully, she likes it. She has a drive for it, so we keep supporting her,” he said.
“(Kalari) brings the body and soul together, and it makes a better person out of you — physically, psychologically.”
It also embodies resilience. Banned in the 19th century by British colonial rulers who feared armed revolt, the martial art fell into decline and only began to experience a resurgence in the late 20th century.
“Apart from a few other martial arts across India, you don’t see much of martial traditions being continued,” Krishnan said. “Kalari, I think, has survived the challenges of time and has maintained its vigor, vitality, and diversity. So, it’s quite natural that people are attracted to it. It is considered the mother of martial arts.”
It entered the spotlight in 2017 when Meenakshi Raghavan, the octogenarian kalari grandmaster, who is the eldest woman in the world to practice and teach the martial art, was awarded the Padma Shri.
For young Keralites, and increasingly also Indians from other states, kalari is becoming a lifestyle.
“The main purpose is self-defense. Other than that, this helps to lead a peaceful life. If we learn this type of martial arts, we won’t go to drugs or any alcohol like that. We’ll be safe from that,” said Pranav K. Thomas, a 19-year-old college student practicing at the Wayanad school.
Komal Parikh, a 28-year-old from Assam, who traveled over 3,000 km to learn at the school, hoped it could help “navigate through the challenges of life” and build confidence.
“We don’t have to rely on someone else for our own protection or well-being,” he said.
Thomas Gurukkal, the chief master trainer at Kadathanadan Kalari Sangam, believes that what draws young people is also the therapeutic aspect of the practice.
Having taught kalari fighting and meditation techniques for over 20 years, he has had many students who joined the school as they dealt with episodes of depression.
He has seen them make an improvement, regain focus and concentration, also thanks to kalari’s unique use of traditional weapons.
“It has a wide range of weapons, more than any other martial art. Moreover, some of these weapons are from a very ancient era. When people practice with these, they get a certain physical strength, integrity and flexibility,” he said.
“Many youngsters are attracted to it because it gives you an extraordinary amount of focus and concentration. It also gives you self-confidence to face anything that life may throw at you.”
