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India’s oldest martial art form kalaripayattu (kalari meaning training ground and payattu meaning combat) originated in Kerala more than 3,000 years ago. To this day, it s known as one of the highest forms of physical and mental training.
Despite its brutality – kalari warriors can disable or kill their opponents merely by striking the correct marmam (vital point) – it is scintillating to watch practitioners executing punches, cuts, throws and blocks against a soundtrack of sticks, swords and shields.
What is kalari?
Every movement, from the lunge of a fist to the swing of a sword, is a deliberate act of meditation. It was the traditional fighting method of Kerala s warrior caste, and was used for settling disputes and as warfare.