Kalaripayattu

Kalaripayattu from Kerala, India is probably the oldest Martial Arts form in the world. It is said that Bodhi Dharma took this art form to China, which it is claimed to have evolved into Kung Fu and other forms of Chinese martial arts.

Kalaripayattu is practised inside a Kalari, which is an arena. This was originally practised by the fighters or warriors of Kerala. Nowadays, it is just a sacred art form and the popularity is dying. Kalaripayattu also shows a strong influence of Ayurveda and major classical danceforms of Kerala.