Repressed during the British occupation due to its deadly techniques, the...
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A child does coordination training with the help of two bamboo sticks while...
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During training, everyone is equal. The simple attire eliminates the...
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Morning meditation session in Calicut, Kerala.
Kalaris are often buried between 2 and 3 meters below ground level to avoid...
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Sharida Vadi , the long stick training.
The Nickname "Flying Warriors" comes from the extremely powerful...
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Yoga exercises are an integral part of training.
Spinal flexibility exercises are crucial in order to perform Kalaripayattu techniques.
Regarded as "the mother of martial arts”, Kalaripayattu,...
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The martial artists must be able to completely turn around during full jump....
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The fighters have no protection, which requires both the attacker and the...
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The warriors do not hold back the force of their blows during training,...
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At the beginning of each training, fighters are coated with special oil to...
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Respect and discipline are fundamental values in martial arts. Trainers...
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Unlike most martial arts, bare handed techniques are taught after weapons....
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The last of the teachings involves aftercare and massages so that fighters...
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The Urumi is a flexible and dangerous sword which measures approximately two...
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Two fighters rest after an intensive class. They have been training since the age seven.
Training weapons keep the marks of intensive training.
Nowadays, kalaris are reopening and this type of fight has a revival as a self-defense technique, and because of its benefits for the body. Like another martial art it inspired, Kungfu, which has also suffered repression, Kalaripayattu continues to be taught in the traditional way, at dawn or at dusk, to avoid heat. The fighters should follow strict steps, beginning with physical exercise, then handling of different weapons such as spears, swords, and shields, finishing the session with wounds healing.
During training, blows are not held back so it is not rare to see weapons to break under attacks or people getting harm, sometimes seriously…
Considéré comme le pionnier de tous les arts martiaux, le Kalaripayattu (kalari signifiant école et payattu combat) a retrouvé sa notoriété ces dernières années. Bien qu’il existe depuis environ 5 000 ans, cet art martial originaire de la région du Kerala, au sud de l’Inde, a presque disparu pendant l’occupation britannique en raison de ses techniques mortelles dangereuses pour les soldats britaniques. De nos jours, les kalaris sont en train de rouvrir et ce type de combat a un renouveau en tant que technique d'autodéfense et en raison de ses bienfaits pour le corps.
Comme un autre art martial qu’il a inspiré, le Kungfu, qui a également subi la répression, le Kalaripayattu continue d’être enseigné de la manière traditionnelle, à l’aube ou au crépuscule, pour éviter la chaleur indienne. Les combattants doivent suivre des étapes strictes, en commençant par l’exercice physique, puis en manipulant différentes armes telles dites de guerre telles que des lances, des épées et des boucliers, en terminant l’apprentissages de soins pour traiter les blessures. Pendant l'entraînement, les coups ne sont pas retenus, il n'est donc pas rare de voir des armes se briser sous des attaques ou des blessures, parfois graves…