Dravidian martial arts
Dravidian martial arts refers to the South Asian fighting styles practiced by the Dravidian peoples of South India and the Tamil people of northeastern Sri Lanka.
History
Written evidence of the Dravidian martial arts dates back to the 2nd or possibly 3rd century BC, when various combat techniques were described in Sangam literature. The Akananuru and Purananuru describe the the use of spears, swords, shields, bows and silambam in ancient Tamilakkam. The word kalari appears in the Puram (verses 225, 237, 245, 356) and Akam (verses 34, 231, 293) to describe both a battlefield and combat arena. The word kalari tatt denoted a martial feat, while kalari kozhai meant a coward in war.[1]
Each warrior in the ancient Tamilakkam received regular military training[2] in target practice and horse riding. They specialized in one or more of the important weapons of the period including the vel (lance or spear), val (sword), kedaham (shield), and vil ambu (bow and arrow). The combat techniques of the Sangam period were the earliest precursors to kalaripayat.[3] This martial art gave birth to Karate and Chinese Kung Fu.[4]
Around 630 AD, King Narasimhavarman of the Pallava dynasty commissioned dozens of granite sculptures showing unarmed fighters disarming armed opponents. These may have shown an early form of varma adi,[5] a Dravidian martial art that allowed kicking, knee strikes, elbow strikes,[6] and punching to the head and chest, but prohibited blows below the waist. This is similar to the style described in the Agni Purana (c. 8th century),[5] which contains several chapters giving descriptions and instructions on dhanur veda, with reference to an earlier sutra on dhanur veda dating back centuries earlier.[7]
Martial arts were not exclusive to the kshatriya caste. The 8th century text Kuvalaymala by Udyotanasuri recorded martial arts being taught at salad and ghatika educational institutions, where Brahmin students from throughout the subcontinent (particularly from South India, Rajasthan and Bengal) "were learning and practicing archery, fighting with sword and shield, with daggers, sticks, lances, and with fists, and in duels (niuddham)."[8]
Kalaripayat and marma adi or Varma ati,[5] developed into their modern forms by the 11th century, during an extended period of warfare between the Chera and Chola dynasties.[9]
Indian martial arts underwent a period of decline after the introduction of firearms and especially after the full establishment of British colonial rule in the 19th century.[10] More European modes of organizing police, armies and governmental institutions, and the increasing use of firearms, gradually eroded the need for traditional combat training associated with caste-specific duties.[11] The British colonial government banned kalaripayat in 1804 in response to a series of revolts.[12][verification needed] The resurgence of public interest in kalaripayat began in the 1920s in Tellicherry as part of a wave of rediscovery of the traditional arts throughout South India which characterized the growing reaction against British colonial rule.[11]
Martial Arts of Tamil Nadu
- Adithada (Kickboxing)
- Kuttu Varisai (Hand and Foot Combat)
- Varma Kalai (Pressure Point Attacks)
- Malyutham (Grappling)
Weapons
- Silambam (Long Staff)
- Muchaan (Short Staff)
- Iretthai Mulonggol (Double Stick)
- Iretthai Vaal (Double Swords)
- Vaal (Single Sword)
- Vaal/Kedeyam (Sword/ Shield)
- Vettarival (Machete)
- Kattari (Small Dagger)
- Peetchuva (Double Edged Kris)
- Surul Pattai (Spiral Steel Whip)
- Suulam (Trident)
- Maduvu (Deer Horns)
- Surul Kombu (Spiral Horns)
- Valari (Boomerang)
- Vel or Etty (Spear)
- Vill Ambu (Bow and Arrow)
Martial Arts of Kerala
- Kalarippayattu (Arena fighting)
- Marma ati (Pressure Point Attacks)
Weapons
- Urumi (Spiral Steel Whip)
- Kurunthadi (Short Stick)
- Otta (Curved Stick)
- Gadha (Club/ Mace)
- Kattari (Dagger)
- Vettukathi (Machete/ Kukri)
- Churika/Kadhara (Short Sword)
- Val (Long Sword)
- Paricha (Round Shield)
- Churika/Kadhara (Short Sword)
- Kuntham (Spear)
- Kettukari (Long Staff)
- Ambum Villum (Bow and Arrow)
- Trisool (Trident)
Notes
- ^ Suresh, P. R. (2005). Kalari Payatte - The martial art of Kerala.
- ^ Subramanian, N. (1966). Sangam polity. Bombay: Asian Publishing House.
- ^ Zarrilli, Phillip B. A South Indian Martial art and the Yoga and Ayurvedic Paradigms. University of Exeter.
- ^ Varghese, Matthew (2003). "Cross-Cultural Relations between Dravidian India and Central China: New Evidences from the Tradition of Martial Art". Indian Folklore Research Journal. 1 (3).
- ^ a b c Svinth, J. R. (2002). A Chronological History of the Martial arts and Combative Sports, Electronic Journals of Martial arts and Sciences.
- ^ Zarrilli, Phillip B. The Vital Spots (Marmmam/Varmam) in Two South Indian Martial Traditions, Paradigms of Practice and Power in a South Indian Martial art. University of Exeter.
- ^ Chakravarti, P. C. (1972). The art of warfare in ancient India. Delhi.
- ^ Luijendijk, D.H. (2005) Kalarippayat: India's Ancient Martial Art, Paladin Press, ISBN 1-58160-480-7
- ^ Zarrilli, Phillip B. (1998). When the Body Becomes All Eyes: Paradigms, Discourses and Practices of Power in Kalarippayattu, a South Indian Martial art. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- ^ Zarrilli, Phillip B. (1992). "To Heal and/or To Harm: The Vital Spots (Marmmam/Varmam) in Two South Indian Martial Traditions Part I: Focus on Kerala's Kalarippayattu". Journal of Asian Martial Arts. 1 (1).
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- ^ a b Zarrilli, Phillip B. (1998). When the Body Becomes All Eyes: Paradigms, Discourses and Practices of Power in Kalarippayattu, a South Indian Martial Art. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- ^ Luijendijk, D.H. (2005). Kalarippayat: India's Ancient Martial Art. Boulder: Paladin Press. ISBN 1581604807.
References
- Varghese, Matthew. (2003). Cross-Cultural Relations between Dravidian India and Central China: New Evidences from the Tradition of Martial Art.