Kalaripayattu

Histoire

Kalaripayattu, from Kerala in southern India, is one of the oldest martial arts still practised. Its name joins "kalari", the training ground, and "payattu", practice. It has northern and southern styles and includes kicks, strikes, holds, acrobatic leaps and many weapons.

Practice declined under colonial rule and was revived in the 1920s and 1930s by teachers such as C. V. Narayanan Nair. Traditional masters (gurukkal) also teach knowledge of vital points (marma) and massage healing linked to Ayurveda.

Le saviez-vous ?

• The urumi, a flexible sword that rolls up like a belt, is one of its most famous weapons.
• Training begins with oil massage and body-flexibility exercises.
• Many kalari halls are built partly below ground level.
• Its movements are often inspired by animals such as the elephant, lion and snake.

Glossaire des techniques

Meippayattu

body exercises and sequences

Kolthari

training with wooden weapons

Ankathari

training with metal weapons

Verumkai

empty-hand fighting

Marma

knowledge of vital points

Armes et équipement

Urumi

flexible coiling sword

Kettukari

long staff

Otta

curved wooden stick

Val and paricha

sword and shield

⚔ In the Arsenal

Urumi

Figures clés

• C. V. Narayanan Nair (1905–1944) — led the 20th-century revival of kalaripayattu

Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica · Kerala Tourism / Kerala Kalaripayattu Association