Kalaripayattu

Why in News?

The Indian Kalaripayattu Federation (IKF) accuses the Indian Olympics Association (IOA) for placing Kalaripayattu in the demonstration section in the 38^th National Games to be held in Uttarakhand.

• Kalaripayattu – It is an Indian martial art and fighting style.
• Purpose – To develop the individual with an extraordinary level of awareness and super-sensitive body-mind co-ordination to keep them ever-prepared for attack & defense.
• Origin – It is an ancient martial art indigenous to Kerala, a small state in the southern tip of India, during the 11^th –12^th century CE.
• Historical references – It is mentioned in the Vadakkan Pattukal ballads written about the Chekavar from the Malabar region of Kerala.
• It is with a legacy of more than 3000 years.

Kalaripayattu is the oldest and most scientific of all martial arts in the world.

• Training – It takes place in a Kalari, an Arena in natural soil ground.
  • It ensures cooling of the body as the students engage themselves in the gruelling, heat-generating exercises.
  • It lessens the threat of skin infection from bites of insects that inhabit the top soil.
• Children at 7 years, are initiated into Kalaripayattu.
• Poothara – A small, upwardly tapering, 7-tiered structure stands at the south-western corner of the training.
• Oral commands – It is called as Vaaythaari, a set of technical words or phrases which don’t convey much to the ordinary people.

References

1. The Indian Express| Kalaripayattu’s removal from competition
2. Kerala Tourism| Kalaripayattu
3. Indian Kalaripayattu Federation| Origin and History of Kalaripayattu