Learn Kalaripayattu, the ancient Indian martial art form in Brisbane

The world has long found inspiration and guidance in India’s culture, traditions, arts, sciences, wisdom and way of life.

One of the ways of life in Kerala, along India’s south-western coast, is through the ancient martial art form Kalaripayattu.

Australian School of Kalaripayattu is dedicated to teaching and sharing this warrior tradition. We aim to impart the true depth of this martial art and preserve the great legacy of Kerala’s warriors.

There are four extensive stages of training in this ancient warrior tradition, each stage building on the skills developed previously.

Meithari is the foundation training to establish the skills that are required to advance through the entire Kalaripayattu system.

This stage involves physical training to develop stamina, strength, flexibility, speed, coordination, agility and balance. Patience, self-discipline, self-awareness and focus are also developed.

The exercises include a vast range of postures, footwork patterns, stances, jumps and leaps, kicks, leg swings, techniques, linear and circular movement forms.

Each movement is learnt one by one, before combining them into flowing sequences which gradually become more demanding and intricate. Behind the fluid grace of these sequences is the strength and power of movements which can, when necessary, be applied with lightning-fast speed and precision to attack or defend.

Kolthari involves training with wooden weapons of different lengths and shapes. There are various techniques learnt in defending and attacking with these weapons. Progress in mastering these techniques is coupled with increasing speed.

Wooden weapons are introduced after extensive body preparation training, as correct weapon practice can only be mastered through perfect control over one’s body.

These weapons are taught in form sequences and further develop the skills already gained in the body training as well as confidence, alertness and concentration.

Metal weapons are taught to advanced students who have learnt to control their body with Meithari and control their wooden weapons with Kolthari.

Metal weapons are taught in form sequences. As in previous stages, this stage begins with simple techniques and systematically and gradually goes on to more strenuous, elaborate and powerful ones.

These techniques are designed to gain complete control over the weapon by making it an extension of the body. This training removes fear and further builds confidence and alertness and immediate reflex responses.

After learning to use the weapons, the student has to learn to do without them against an armed or unarmed opponent, or multiple opponents. This is the most advanced and technical part of the martial art form.

It consists of an array of blocks, attacks, kicks, locks and throws. Special application techniques to the Marma (pressure points) are also learnt. The student learns how, where and when to hit a Marma, how to block a Marma attack and how to heal injuries to the Marma.

The superior speed and accuracy needed to apply these techniques are created through constant practice. By this stage of the training, fear has been considerably removed, and confidence, alertness and doubtlessness are achieved.

Once the student has reached an advanced level in the martial practice, they may learn the healing practice of Kalari Chikitsa.

In this tradition, one must understand how a person can be harmed before they can learn how a person can be healed. Kalari Chikitsa is an integral part of the Kalaripayattu tradition, and this combination of martial art and healing art is unique in the world.

All classes are taught by Master Biju Nair, a traditionally trained Kalaripayattu teacher from Kerala, India.

Master Biju hails from a traditional Nair family. His ancestors were the traditional warrior class of Kerala, and the custodians of Kalaripayattu. Following in the generations of warriors before him, his duty is to pass on this knowledge to the next generation of students.

Master Biju grew up in a rural village in Kerala in Southern India. In 1996 he began learning Kalaripayattu and its healing art Kalari Chikitsa under Suji Master at Indian School of Martial Arts in Muttom, Thodupuzha.

After seven years with his Master, he went on to study with his Grandmaster, Guru Balachandran Nair (Satguru Hanuman Das), through the Gurukula system. Here he became completely immersed in the healing and martial art by living, learning and working at the Kalari full time for four years.

The Gurukula system is an ancient system of education in India, where the disciple receives the knowledge by taking up residence with the Guru. For Kalaripayattu and Kalari Chikitsa, as with training in any traditional art form in India, understanding and acquiring the knowledge is a long, demanding and rigorous process.

Since 2017 Master Biju has been training under Gurukkal Sathyanarayanan, son of Sri Govindan Kutty Nair Gurukkal, at CVN Kalari Sangham Trivandrum.

Master Biju has taught Kalaripayattu in India and Australia. He teaches students from a wide range of backgrounds, and all ages and abilities. He is committed to preserving his ancestor’s legacy of Kalaripayattu and sharing it to improve people’s lives.

Traditional Indian Sports Medicine

Kalari Chikitsa is an ancient system of musculoskeletal treatments. Originating in Kerala in Southern India, Kalari Chikitsa was developed to benefit the warriors of Kalaripayattu.