Kalarippayattu Grading

The next day after my first training happened to be the grading of my classmates so I went to check out the grading so as to be able to see more complete patterns that I wasn't able to see in the practice sessions. It was helpful in letting me get the big picture about the martial art because besides being able to see students of various levels execute the expected moves at their level, there were also displays that were there to entertain the people who were there to watch the grading.

The grading was very long and complicated. First there is a grading for tumbling itself, then a grading for basic moves, then a grading for pattern (sequence of moves) and lastly, sparing.

It struck me watching the grading, how diversed the movements are. There are locking, kicking, tumbling, punching, tackling and grappling moves. It reminded me of mixed martial arts a little. I saw elements of taekwondo, karate, jujutsu, boxing, krav maga and wu shu somewhere in there. They also made use of weapons like sticks and sword and shield. I discovered later that the use of sticks is known as silambam and is only taught to higher level students for the fear that lower level students might hurt themselves.

Watching my classmates, it was also very obvious who is focussed and who is not. People that are not focussed were very clumsy in their moves. I was wondering if the practice of this art demanded focus for good execution or the practice of this art brings about better focus. Or maybe it's a two way thing...

I was also looking for some kind rhythm that underlies the moves. It seems like some people have a stronger in built rhythm to their moves than others. I asked a friend in purple belt if the sense of rhythm is important for the proper execution of Kalari but he doesn't seem to know what I really talking about.

K8