Kalaripayattu

Kalaripayattu (pronunciation: [kɐɭɐripɐjɐtːɨ̆]) is an Indian martial art which originated in the state of Kerala. It is considered to be the oldest fighting system in existence.^[1] It is now practiced in Kerala, in contiguous parts of Tamil Nadu and among the Malayali community of Malaysia. It was originally practiced in northern and central parts of Kerala and the Tulunadu region of Karnataka.^[2]
Kalaripayattu includes strikes, kicks, grappling, preset forms, weaponry and healing methods.^[2] Regional variants are classified according to geographical position in Kerala; these are the Northern style from Malabar region in north Kerala, the Central style from inner Kerala and the southern style from Travancore region of south Kerala. The southern Payattu system is now extinct and the Tamil style of "Adi Murai" is classified as the southern kalaripayattu. Legends like Unni aarcha, Aromal Chekavar and legendary kalari trainers like Narayan Gurukkal belonged to Ezhavas clan. The kalaripayattu was spread across to Chinese borders by Bodhidharma, who was a Buddhist monk.