Kalarippayattu or Kalaripayattu - A traditional martial arts of Kerala and practiced in that south Indian states, It incorporates strikes, kicks, grappling, choreographed martial art sequences, and weaponry, as well as healing techniques .It’s all about inner peace and fluid animal movements. Kalaripayattu is one of the oldest martial arts in existence in the world.

The term Kalarippayattu is compound formed from the words “kalari” and “payattu” . The “Kalari” means school or gymnasium and “Payattu” means to fight or to exercise or to put hard work into. By oral and written traditions, Parasurama, the sixth Avatar of Vishnu, is believed to be the founder of the art and Some of believes the founder and patron is rishi (saint) Agasthya. Masters in this system are usually known as “gurukkal “or asan . The master of kalaripayattu will be a good physiotherapist

There are many different styles of Kalarippayattu. If one looks at the way attacks and defences are performed, one can distinguish three main schools of thought: the northern styles, the central styles, and the southern styles.

Kalarippayattu practiced mainly emphasis on weapons than on empty hands and practicing fighting techniques emphasize empty hands and some weapons. In the stages of training are Chuvatu (solo forms), Katthi (knife), Katara (dagger), Churika (short sword), “Kurunthadi” or “Kuruvadi” (short stick), Jodi (partner training/sparring), Neduvadi or Silambam (long stick), Valum parichayum (sword and shield), “Urumi or Chuttuval” (flexible long sword), double sword and Marmma and kalari grappling.

Kalarippayattu is includes physical training and use of full-body oil massage, called meippayattu . The system of treatment and massage, and the assumptions about practice are closely associated with Ayurveda The purpose of medicinal oil massage is to increase the practitioners' flexibility, to treat muscle injuries incurred during practice, or when a patient has problems related to the bone tissue, the muscles, or nerve system. The term for such massages is thirumal and the massage specifically for physical flexibility chavutti thirumal.

Kalarippayattu includs Marma ati (hitting the vital spots) and Adithada (hit/defend). The preliminary empty-hand techniques of Marma ati or Varma ati refers specifically to the application of these techniques to vital spots. Weapons may include Silambam (long sticks), short sticks, and the double deer horns.
Kalarippayattu are not usually practiced in special roofed pits but rather in the open air, or in an unroofed enclosure of palm branches. The practicing area is called Kalari. The training is mainly divided into four parts consisting of

(1) Meithari- (Body Control Exercise) is the first step to be practiced in the training of Kalaripayat. This is the main basis on which further progress of the students is built. Every conceivable form of stretching, turning and twisting of the body is mastered by means of practicing this. The art of wielding weapons can be mastered only through perfect control over one's body as well as by agility. A man, however strong he may be, cannot use his strength effectively if he has no control over his own body.beginning stage with rigorous body sequences involving twists, stances and complex jumps and turns. Twelve meippayattu exercises for neuromuscular coordination, balance and flexibility follow the basic postures of the body.

(2)Kolthari- (Training with wooden sticks)This is the second step of the traning using sticks like Kettukari stick,Cheruvadi or muchan & Otta(an S-shaped wooden stick,

(3)Ankathari- “war training" This is the 3rd steps of the kalaripayattu, after the proficient with all the wooden weapons will proceeds to Ankathari (literally "war training") starting with metal weapons like Katara(a metal dagger with a curved blade), Vaal and Paricha(Sword & shield), Kuntham(Spear) Churika (short sword), Venmazhu (axe),Ambum Villum (bow and arrow) & extremely dangerous weapon Urumi (flexible sword) which require superior concentration due to their lethal nature .After the completion of 'Ankathari' training, the student would specialize in a weapon of his choice, to become an expert swordsman or stick fighter.

(4) Verumkai- (UNARMED COMBAT) is a postgraduate course in Kalaripayat. Here an unarmed combatant fights with an armed enemy and puts him down through various techniques like Ozhivukal (skipping), lrrakkam (stepping back), Kayattam (stepping forward), Thada (blocking), Pidutham (catching) and marmam (blows and hitting at the vital points) of the body. Thus the entire body becomes a weapon. After achieving mastery with all weapons , the Gurukkal teaches bare-handed techniques. Including arm locks, grappling, and strikes to the Pressure Points (Marmam), the vital points of the body. The knowledge of Marmam will get only to those students whom he trusts, because, Marmams (vulnerable parts of the human body) learned persons can disable or kill their opponents by a mere touch in a Marmam. Marmam is taught only to the promising and level-headed persons, to forbid misuse of the technique.

Conventional Kalari Deities

A person trained in Kalarippayattu was supposed to risk even his life for causes considered noble during the old days. Qualities like courage and confidence embodied in an austere sense of discipline was instilled along with the training. For this purpose, an arc-shaped seven stepped platform is constructed in the south-west corner inside the Kalari. This is called the ‘Poothara’. Those who practice Kalarippayattu, first worship these deities irrespective of their religion, caste or creed. The Poothara can be said to be the sanctum-sanctorum of the Kalari. An arc is drawn on the Kalari floor with the corner, where walls on the southern and western sides join as the centre of the arc. This will be in the shape of the arc, seven steps are constructed. The seventh step is used as the platform on which the idol made in the stone and having the shape of lotus-bud is installed. The idol above the seventh step is the abode of the presiding deity of the Kalari (Kalari Paradevata or Goddess of Kalari).