Kalari -The martial art of Kerala.

Living organisms cannot survive without being able to defend themselves against aggression - either escaping from predators or just ensuring an adequate supply of resources such as food and water.
Among the ancient martial traditions that exist today, that of Kerala, (a state in the southern most part of India) is named Kalarippayattu and it can be considered as the most ancient and comprehensive. The origin of Kalarippayattu can be traced back to the Vedic period. Legends say that around 525 AD an Indian Buddhist monk named Bodhidharama traveled to China and preached at the Shaolin temple.
On finding the monks weak and listless, Bodhidharama taught them the eighteen hands of Buddha - a special set of exercises and from this evolved the Chinese art of Shaolin Boxing. These eighteen hands of Buddha were said to be derived from the eighteen adavukal (adavu = technique), which form the base of the Vadakkan or northern style of Kalarippayattu. Slowly this fighting system spread to Japan and along with the fighting traditions already present in those regions, developed into many of today's martial arts. That is another story.
Kalarippayattu is as old as the great Indian philosophy and the Vedas. It is the martial tradition of Kerala and it has its roots deep in the Vedic culture of India. Kalarippayattu is considered by many as the most comprehensive of all the martial traditions because it has:

· an excellent system of physical training
· a very effective self defense techniques - both armed and unarmed.
· a great system of vital t/pressure points system of fighting and treatment based on the principles of Ayurveda.
· a great philosophy based on the Vedic culture of India.

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"EXPECTING YOUR VALUABLE COMMENTS AND QUERIES REGARDING KERALA."

Peep into Kerala History...

According to Historians "the discovery of Microliths or small stone implements near Kozhikode and Cochin point to presence of man in Kerala as far back as 4000 BC"

Kerala is a land which always encouraged trading and traders. In 1000 BC King Solomon's ship visited "Ophix" (the modern puvar south of Thiruvananthapuram) to trade in Ivory Sandalwood and Peacocks. This fame of Kerala Spices brought the Romans in 30 AD. Who were followed by the Greeks, Arabs, Chinese. The spices trade brought Vascoda Gamma to Kappad (near Kozhikode) in 1498. Which paved the way for a new trading history. Followed by Gamma Europeans opened the way for new trade in spices, Ivory, Sandalwood and Peacocks.

Geographically Kerala is one of the smallest states in India covering merely 1.3% of total area of the country. Karnataka in north and Tamilnadu in East. Physically the state can be divided in to three natural divisions, the sandy costal region with coconut groves, paddy fields, back waters and sea. The midland region made up of fertile reddish hills and valleys that grow most of Kerala's agricultural crops. Peaks extensive ridges and ravines of the Western Ghats. Where sandalwood, tea, coffee, rubber and most of Kerala's exotic spices are grown.

Kerala enjoys balmy whether almost all through out the year. It is neither too cold in the winter months nor too hot in summer. The best time to visit is November to February, where the air bracing and on some morning there is a light mist.

The official language of Kerala is Malayalam but English too is widely spoken. Kerala is one of the most progressive state in terms of social welfare and physical quality of life. The matriarchal system here is a unique social heritage as the women of Kerala enjoy a better status than there counter parts else where in India.

The people of Kerala enjoy a unique cosmopolitan outlook, which is reflected in there tolerance towards other races and religions. So it has been called Kerala as "God's Own Country".

Kerala "God's own country"

Sandwiched between the Western Ghats on the east, and the Arabian Sea on the West, Kerala is one of the beautiful states in India. A tropical paradise of waving palms and wide sandy beaches, this thin strip of coastal territory slopes down from the mountain ghats in a cascade of lush green vegetation