Kalari is Not Just a Martial Art - Kalarippayattu Documentary

Many believe Kalarippyattu, which is also known as Kalari, is the mother of all martial arts in the world. Kalarippayattu is practiced in training centers called Kalari under experienced gurus.

Kalarippayattu training has three stages -- Meythari, Kolthari, and Ankathari. Meythari is mainly body control and flexibility improving exercise. Kolthari involves training with wooden weapons. In Ankathari stage, the students are trained combat with metal weapons.

Kalari has developed its own treatment methods called "Kalari chikilthsa". It has two types of treatments -- "Wellness treatments" and "Marma treatments". The wellness treatment (kalari massage or uzhichil) is mainly given to healthy persons to improve their overall feel of health and well being. Whereas Marma treatments are given to people with injuries on "marma" spots. Kalari treatment is also highly effective for people with fractures and bone breaks.

Another interesting application of Kalari is the role it plays on sports and performing art forms. Numerous performing artists from different parts of the world have trained in Kalari to improve their body movements and flexibility. Many contemporary dance troops in the world give special kalari training for their artists to improve their performance.

Many sports training bodies in India are also giving Kalari training to its players to improve their flexibility and body movements. The volleyball coach of Sports Authority of India's volleyball training centre says there is a very good improvement once they have started giving Kalari training to their players.

This documentary was shoot as an academic project in 2004 by PG diploma students of the Institute of Communication and Journalism, Calicut Press Club, Kerala, India. CVN Kalari Calicut, Bharghava Kalari Sangham, Calicut and SAI Training Centre, Calicut have helped us in creating this video.