About Kalari

Kalaripayattu is known as “Kalari” in the West. It is an ancient martial and healing art that originated in Southern India thousands of years ago and has influences from the Druvidains and Aryans. There are references of Kalari (referred as martial techniques) in the ancient text “The Vedas”, the “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana”. The history of Kalari is of mythology, secrets, exploitation and experience passed through the generations. It is amazing that the art is still alive today given its difficult history. Being that Kalari is both a martial and a healing art, a practitioner or viewer has multiple paths to follow. We (Kalari Movement) choose to follow and teach the health and wellness aspects of Kalari. The art is life practice of preservation, to preserve ones-self and the life of others. Kalari is also a sibling to Yoga, Ayurveda and the other Vedic sciences.

The Physical Practice

A Kalari practice can be just as entertaining, strenuous and mystical as its past. Fortunately, we are not preparing for battle like the ancients but, we still get the health and wellness benefits of the art. Kalari is a vast art, at first glance it could appear martial, yogic, theatrical, medicinal or therapeutic. When preformed it feels fluid, natural, energetic, challenging and life supporting. After practice, the body has been through a workout and the mind is calm, clear and harmonic undertones similar to feelings of a deep yoga session are experienced. As a practitioner continues the art, he or she experiences the benefits of flexibility, strength, balance, stamina, inner peace and sense of well being.
Because of the effectiveness of Kalari, there is a growing number of professionals in the performing arts and sports that train in Kalari to enhance their skills and performance. Irrespective of the interest in martial arts, anybody in the body-oriented activities (performance sports professional or recreational) can benefit from this training. To learn more about the practice check out this link.

The Kalari Structure

The word “Kalari” has many translations including; gym, battlefield and building. The Kalari structure is a rectangular clay pit dug about 1 meter into the ground with an open air thatched roof made of bamboo and palm leaves. The dimensions of the Kalari are 21 x 42 foot lengths of its Gurukkal. The clay is mixed with each Gurkkals proprietary blend of herbs to keep the Kalari floor sanitized and for practitioners to soak up the healing properties of the clay and herbs during the their practice.

A Brief History

Kalari is a branch of the Vedic sciences; others include Yoga, Ayurveda and Jyotish. These practices and philosophies of wellness work together to bring the body, mind and spirit into harmony. From ancient times up until the mid 1700’s the Northern style of Kalari was practiced by warriors to protect the kingdoms and the royal families of the region. In other areas of what is now Kerala and TamilNadu Central and Southern styles of Kalari were practiced by all religions and social classes. Kalari was a dominate part of life in the village, learning and practicing Kalari during the early years of life was as common as going to school is for us. Children would begin the practice at the age of 7 and continue until around 18 to 20 depending on their life’s circumstance.

Since inception the practice has been secretive and mystical with knowledge being passed down physically and verbally from teacher to student. Palm leaf texts were scribed and shared of which are very rare and an unknown number still exist. In Philip Zarill’s ‘When the Body Becomes All Eyes’ it is stated that “Students would be lucky to receive 70 percent of their teachers knowledge, while only the most trusted would learn all his or her training and healing techniques”. Although curriculum is still subject to the Gurukkals discretion times have changed in the past 30 years since the book was written. Students are now being taught at an accelerated pace in comparison to the past but are doing so without compromising the techniques, ethics or the traditional context of the practice.

During the English imperialist-era Kalari was forced to become completely underground; punishments of exile and death were common to those found teaching the native art. It was thought that if the practice continued the Keralites could organize and pose opposition to the Imperialist strong hold in the territory. Many were exiled, killed and silenced over the practice. After the British left Kalari didn’t really recover to the following it once had, the people that still had the information or could even translate the palm leaf texts were few and far. Today an unknown number of palm leaves exist. Although its not as popular in India as it was in the past, it is becoming more and more popular especially with the interest of westerners.

Kalari in the Modern World

The suppressed and hidden art is being re-released to the western world. Within India Kalari is gaining its place among tradition and western culture. Ancient practices continue within the Kalari while modern norms and tech innovations are in ear shot of its walls. It is truly an ancient practice that can have huge benefits for people in a modern time. Although mostly unheard of throughout the world, Kalari popularity is expanding through Europe, Japan and Kalari Movement is doing its part to share it with the United States.

There is so much information about Kalari we can not possibly cover it all in this exegesis. This is by no means a complete explanation of the art, if you are inclined we encourage you to learn more about the history and practice. Join us in class and check out “When The Body Becomes All Eyes” by Phillip Zarrilli.