History of Kalari Warriors

The art originated thousands of years ago in Kerala, India. The first written reference to this style dates back to the 3rd century B.C. Kalaripayattu (Kalari) contains elements of dance and yoga while incorporating weapons such as swords, shields, and staffs. 

Under colonial rule between the 1500s and 1800s, India was banned from training in Kalari to prevent potential resistance fighters from training in wartime art. The government confiscated weapons, killed those trained in Kalari, and outlawed the practice of the art altogether. Kalari survived thanks to a few devoted practitioners who taught this martial art secretly for hundreds of years. 

Kalari focuses on various disciplines, including hand-to-hand combat, weaponry, flexibility, and acrobatics. The use of weapons is integral to the Kalari martial art. It requires years of dedication to wield them with skill and efficiency. Weapons are intended to become an extension of the body. One weapon, the urumi, a flexible, bladed-whip sword unique to India, can be deadly if not used properly. In training, experienced practitioners will even train students using actual blades. Acrobatic skills allow warriors to evade both armed and unarmed attacks. 

The goal isn’t to hurt each other but to instill proper respect and vigilance when using weapons. However, distractions could be fatal. There's also an emphasis on overall health and fitness. It's an art that purifies the mind, body, and soul, improves concentration and speed, and helps to achieve optimal physical and mental health through Ayurvedic practices. 

Today, Kalari schools are thriving all over India. One seventy-year-old woman responsible for reprising the Kalari martial art and making it popular is Meenakshi Raghavan. She began training in Kalari at a young age and fell in love with this martial art. She’s a master of the sword and shield, regularly performing combat demonstrations across India against men half her age. She runs a Kalari school with over a hundred students, passing the art on to the next generation. In Shields of the Siddhis, Nilaya’s mother, Salena, is inspired by Meenakshi Raghavan. 

Kalari warriors band together to strengthen their warrior skills through meditation and various physical yoga practices and poses. As deadly as Kalari training can be, it's also a graceful martial art. Kalari is a way of life, assimilating values such as compassion, discipline, and respect.