Watch our “30-Day Training Kalaripayattu in India” Video and see all the Kalaripayattu kicks that we have learned during this time.

BENEFITS OF KALARIPAYATTU KICKS

Strong and Flexible Legs

30 days of Kalaripayattu in India was a new training experience. Most of the days we spend practicing kalaripayattu kicks. Each kick has its transition (meaning turn). In the beginning, the exercises seemed easy, but as the practice kept going, we noticed that they required a lot of flexibility and strength. After one month of training, we could feel our leg muscles. They were not stiff but rather powerful and “extended”.

Kalaripayattu kicks martial art kicks

One of the characteristics of kalaripayattu kicks is that the arms need to be lifted all the time. That is actually pretty helpful. The body is more extended, and the back remains straight. Also, it helps to keep balance. The feet should be pointed, kind of like in ballet, but more natural. After all, it is a martial art, not a dance.  

Below you will find kalaripayattu terminology for the kicks that we have learned. The language of the exercises is MALAYALAM. Malayalam is the main language spoken across the Indian state of Kerala.

4 KALARIPAYATTU KICKS

BASIC KALARIPAYATTU KICKS WITH TRANSITIONS

1. Ner kaal – straight swing (ner – straight, kal – leg)
when students perform kicks the teacher shouts ValathnereEdathnere, which refers to right side and left side.

2. Kon kaal – diagonal swing (corner leg)

3. Veethu kaal – circle swing

One round of kicks means going all lengths of Kalari (training place) forth and back. Changing the direction of movement is called transition. There are different transitions for each kick.

Kalaripayattu kicks martial art kicks

ADVANCED KALARIPAYATTU KICKS

4. Mumbil chavitti thirinju – straight swing with turns.

Kalaripayattu kicks martial art kicks

TRANSITIONS

For ner kaal the transitions can be:

  • Valathu nerey thiringu
  • Valathu nerey munbil chavitti thiringu valingamarnnu
  • Valathu nerey munbil chavitti thiringu othadiyil amarnnu

    For kon kaal the transition is:

    • Akam kaal – inward press

      For veethu kaal the transition is:

      • Purram kaal – outward flick

        CHECK ALSO KALARIPAYATTU ANIMAL EXERCISES AND OUR 30-Day KALARIPAYATTU TRAINING EXPERIENCE:

        ANIMAL EXERCISES

        Kalaripayattu

        30-Day Kalaripayattu

        Training Experience – Part 1

        30-Day Kalaripayattu

        Training Experience – Part 2