Kalarippayat

Jasmine Simhalan performing Kalarippayat and Silambam techniques

Kalarippayat ( Malayalam for "battlefield exercise") or Kalarippayattu is an ancient Indian martial art that originated in Kerala and is still widespread in southern India today.

The fighting technique has historical roots in the actions of ancient Indian war leaders who, in order to avoid unnecessary bloodshed in their armies, put two Kalarippayat fighters against each other who fought a life and death duel for their rulers. The warriors were recruited from the matriarchal society of the Nair and provided the elite bodyguards of the Maharajas . Kalarippayat warriors were considered particularly fearless and devoted to their rulers, and successfully involved the colonial power in some conflicts during the British conquest.

history

It is believed that the Kalarippayat is a purely Indian art of war without external influences. On the one hand, it is practiced almost exclusively in rural areas, the residents of which are known for their tradition and arch-conservatism and therefore rarely accept foreign traditions. On the other hand, one can find similar forms of movements in classical Indian dance .

A master and teacher ( Gurukal ) of Kalarippayat is not only a master of martial arts in his village, but mostly also the village doctor. These masters are in great demand, especially in treating broken bones, bruises, sprains and in Indian Ayurveda healing. Their so-called Kalari massages, which are rooted in Ayurveda (for example Kalari Uzhichil, Kalari Nadi Uzhichil ) are now also becoming increasingly popular in the western world.

Kalarippayat was banned during the British colonial era , but the tradition lived on in secret and has been openly practiced again since 1947.

In today's southern India there are two styles that are firmly tied to two ethnic groups. A mixture of fighting styles seems to emerge only at the borders of the two ethnic groups. In the mid-1990s, the martial arts experienced a new heyday, in which more than 500 schools dedicated themselves to the teaching tradition.

Principle and technology

The Kalarippayat is a weaponless art of war that does not prohibit the use of weapons. However, no special shapes were created for these, as they are only understood as an extension of the body. Many techniques are closely related to another Indian martial art, Vajramushti , which also influenced the Chinese Shaolin martial art .

Northern style

The northern style is practiced by the Nayar , a Malayalam speaking people. Important centers are located between the cities of Calicut and Kottayam . The exercises take place in a so-called village kalari . Kalari are buildings of fixed dimensions: fourteen meters long and seven meters wide. Your floor is one meter lower. Not only do combat exercises take place in the Kalari, but it also serves as a practice and consultation room for the master, who owns it. The northern style is kept very secret, so most of the exercises often take place at night. Technically, the northern style involves high jumps and kicks, blocks and punches with arms almost outstretched, as well as low stances and long lunges. The training consists of forms of movement that are called Suvadus and whose breathing technique has probably been adopted from yoga .

Southern style

The southern style is mainly practiced by Tamils . The most important centers are the southernmost tip of India and Chennai (the former Madras). In contrast to the northern style, the southern style is carried out outdoors and in the bright day. The training ground is in the middle of the village in a shady place. In the southern style, one can find more circular movements, the blocks of which are performed with open hands and bent arms. There are fewer jumps and all forms of movement appear a bit rougher than the northern style. For this, more emphasis is placed on a firm position and the strong use of arms and shoulders.

Movie

Kalarippayat - Martial Art of the Gods , TV report by Bernard Guerri, 65 minutes, France 1996

literature

Pi Balakrishnan: Kalarippayattu. The ancient martial art of Kerala. CV Govindankutty Nair Gurukka, Trivandrum 1995.
Patrick Denaud: Kalaripayat. L'origine des arts martiaux. Budostore, Paris 1996, ISBN 2-908580-62-4 ( La Budothéque 411).
Robert Elgood: Hindu Arms and Ritual. Arms and Armor from India 1400-1865. Eburon Academic Publishers, Delft 2005, ISBN 90-5972-020-2 .
DH Luijendijk: Kalarippayat. India's Ancient Martial Art. Paladin Press, Boulder CO 2005, ISBN 1-58160-480-7 .
DH Luijendijk: Kalarippayat. The Essence and Structure of an Indian Martial Art. Oprat, Elst 2008, ISBN 978-1-4092-2626-0 .
Phillip B. Zarrilli: When the Body Becomes All Eyes. Paradigms, Discourses and Practices of Power in Kalarippayattu, a South Indian Martial Art. Oxford University Press, Oxford et al. 2000, ISBN 0-19-565538-9 .

Web links

Commons : Kalarippayattu - collection of images, videos and audio files