Kalarippayattu

Three Styles

The kalaripayattu of Kalari Darshana consists of three types of family styles. In his book Kalarippattu (1963)

Sreedharan Nayar divided all kalaripayattu family styles into three groups: the Northern Styles, the Central Styles,

and the Southern Styles. He did this on basis of their shared characteristics.

 

Northern Styles (vadakkan sampradayam)
Northern Styles were practised by the brahmin caste (priests) and nayer caste (local warrior caste, also nobility and
kings). The training focusses on weapons, like spear (kuntham), sword (churika), dagger (katara), axe (venmezhu),
etc. Training is hard because weapons are heavy.

Central Styles (madhya sampradayam)
Central Styles are mainly practiced by Mappila Muslims (a Mappila is either a descendant of any native convert to
Islam or a mixed descendant of any Middle Eastern — Arab or non Arab, like Iranian — Muslim). Footwork, avasions and
throws has a central place within these styles. It looks like a combination of wrestling (maybe there is an Iranian
influence) and the Northern Styles.

Southern Styles (thekkan sampradayam)
Southern Styles were practiced in Kerala by lower caste societies, like the thiyya. It has a lot of similarities with
the Tamil martial art Selambam. Because it was prohibited for the lower castes to use weapons, its emphasis is on
empty hand, sticks, and knives. There is also a striking similarity with certain Thai Boxing styles, and with
Indonesian and Philippino martial arts.