Kalaripayattu - World's Oldest Martial Art

Which is the oldest martial art in the world?

Where is it practiced?

Who teaches it?

Kung Fu? No.

Shao Lin? No.

Judo, Karate? No.

Taekwondo? No.

Then which is the oldest? 

It is called Kalaripayattu!

Where?

Read on.

Kalaripayattu is a 3,000-year-old traditional martial art from Kerala, India, often considered the oldest surviving martial art in the world. Legend attributes its origin to Parashurama, a warrior sage.  It blends self-defense techniques, including kicks, strikes, and weapon combat, with physical conditioning and holistic healing.  It is taught in Kalaris (specialised training centres) in Kerala and other parts of India. It emphasises speed, flexibility, and synchronisation between mind and body. Readers may browse Wikipedia for more details.

Kalaripayattu has four stages of training, namely:

1. Meipayattu: Body conditioning, agility, and flexibility exercises, often mimicking animal postures.
2. Kolgari: Training with wooden weapons such as a bamboo stick
3. Ankathari: Combat with metal weapons such as swords, shields, spears, and the flexible Urumi.
4. Verumkai: Bare-handed fighting techniques, focusing on pressure points (marma).

We a group of Navy Veterans in the age group of 75-85 years recently witnessed an adrenaline raising performance of Kalaripayattu in Kannur Kerala. We had our Reunion there. It was a spellbinding performance to say the least. Watching the martial artists perform various combat forms including with the weapons, gave us goose bumps. Sharing below few pictures and videos taken that evening. The performance was held on the terrace of our resort in Kannur with minimal lighting. Flash guns were not used. Readers may kindly bear with some of the blurred images. The pictures and videos depict all the four stages of training as mentioned above.

Special thanks to Capt GR Nair for sharing some of the pictures.

See the video to get a feel of live action as they commenced their performance.

The video below has all three stages of training namely hand-to-hand, wooden and metal weapons. Sure to give you goose bumps.

Next came Urumi the flexible sword! Performing with an urumi requires a very high level of proficiency as you can see the video below.

It is all about the synchronisation of the mind and body. The video below shows various postures which help in Verumkai.

The team also performed with fire and ambers as seen in the video below:

In the end, the Kalari warriors conveyed their thanks in their inimitable style along with their Guruji See the short video clip below.

It was our turn to thank them. Here is a group picture of the performers with the Navy Veterans.

Kannur is also famous for Theyyam, the dance of the Gods. If you haven't read our story on Theyyam, just click the link below to browse.

Theyyam Dance of the Gods - A picture story from Kannur, Kerala

Munnar Kalaripayattu

Ghumakkad had earlier carried a story on Kalaripayattu performance near Munnar in Kerala. That performance was held in a Kalari shaped like a well with seating for the audience all around, Sharing below the link for the story along with few pictures for comparison.

Munnar The Charm of Kerala - The picture story takes you around the misty slopes of tea gardens of Munnar. It has also captured the kalaripayattu performance near Munnar. Sharing few pictures for comparison with the Kannur experience of Kalaripayattu.

 

We close with a picture of Ghumakkad with the Kalari warriors of Kannur.

Thanks for browsing. Do leave a comment to encourage us.

Stay connected.

   - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Secunderabad and Kannur/ 27th March 2026

#kalaripayattu #martialart #kerala #oldestmartialart #3000yearsago #Kannur #FFAReunion #FFA #NavyVeterans #Womenwarriors #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh

Theyyam Dance of The Gods

What is Theyyam?

It is a ritual art form, also known as dance of the Gods.

 

Gods? What does it mean?

The dancers, all male, believe that they get 'transformed' into the deities.

Do people worship these human 'deities'?

Yes. They seek Theyyam's blessings to solve their problems.

Incredible. Where is it held? When? Who performs? How long?

Browse Ghumakkad's story below to get your answers.

According to District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) Kannur, Theyyam, is a traditional ritual art form, and takes its name from the Sanskrit word "daivam," meaning God. The dance performance in representation of the deity is usually performed from December to April at various temples and shrines. Theyyams come in over 400 varieties, each with unique characteristics. Among them, the most well-known are Muchilottu Bhagavathi and Raktha Chamundi. Every Theyyam will be uniquely and meticulously crafted, with unique facial cosmetics, attire, and accessories including headdresses, bracelets, garlands, and fabrics. 

Theyyam, or Kaliyattom, is a 1,000-year-old sacred ritual dance from North Kerala, India, where performers embody deities, ancestors, and heroes. This "dance of the gods" features elaborate costumes, vibrant face painting, and intense, trance-like movements to bless the devotees. 

Ghumakkad was recently in Kannur as part of a Naval Reunion. We were all set to witness a live Theyyam ritual. But at the last moment, it had to be cancelled. However, our tourist guide had briefed us in detail about it. Alas, I could not shoot Theyyam pictures myself. Am therefore, sharing a few pictures from the net below, much to my dislike.

Readers may browse a 10-minute video excellently shot by a German photographer Dennis Schmelz here. He was almost hunted by a Theyyam!

Kathakali

Kerala has another dance form called Kathakali in which the dancers go through elaborate makeups and attires with headgear. Readers may browse our earlier story depicting Kathakali among other attractions in and around Munnar, a hill station in Kerala.

Munnar The Charm of Kerala - Feel the gentle slopes of Munnar hills and its culture through pictures.

Misty Munnar - Here is another picture story to take you to the misty hills of Munnar. Enjoy the view.

Reunion 2014

As mentioned earlier, the plan to witness the Theyyam was part of our Naval Reunion. A Reunion not of coursemates (as is generally the case) but faculty mates who were together in INS Valsura Jamnagar during mid-1970s. Called FFA, the association goes back more than 50 years now. You may browse an account of our earlier Reunion in Kerala in 2014 below

FFA Reunion in Kerala 2014 - Twelve years ago, we all looked younger. Two of our spouses have since left us. The picture story also tells us what is FFA?

FFA on a House Boat in Backwaters - Enjoying the boat cruise in the back waters. Ghumakkad the photographer was almost left behind as the boat casted off!

The FFA has since had many Reunions as listed below:

2012: Mumbai

2013: Jamnagar

2014: Kochi

2015: Udaipur

2017: Andamans

2019: Russia

2023: Bhopal

2024: Hyderabad

2026: Kannur

It is time for the 10th Reunion of FFA. Venue will be polled soon.

We end with what Eleanor Roosevelt said about true friends, 'Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends leave footprints in your heart'. FFA is alll about true friends!

Thanks for browsing.

Stay connected and do leave a comment. A few words will suffice to encourage us.

   - Harsh-the-Ghuammakad/ Secunderabad/ 3rd March 2026

#reunions #navyveterans #recharginglife #friednsforeverasli #FFA #indiannavy #eleanorroosevelt #PQs #truefriends theyyam #kerala #ritualdance #trancelike #dnaceofgods #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh