![Kalari boosts strength, stamina and flexibility. Courtesy Vipin Lagarto](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SGX73VPTDSCIONJD7TJL4UXHWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=65a57a5952125a5fbce658863e4d1c10596319fe95b947f9efdd0fd4c7ee5dff&width=400&height=225)
![The stances and poses in kalari are derived from the habits of eight 'warrior' animals: the lion, boar, cobra, elephant, tiger, horse, rooster and buffalo. Kalpana Sunder for The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5HDK54CVIBFBPHULTT7XS44KCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=21ba7295f0f7142c04c0b9556ce6cf84a7db308475e021beffe8807b5e9497b7&width=400&height=225)
![Kalari also involves the use of wooden sticks, and metal daggers and shields. Kalpana Sunder for The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XWGQFRHMUB72UVZBQW57SNF7UE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b1f796fb33872d3b118cf054eba7f02f58667045143ad2b07b3f54819baf5666&width=400&height=225)
![Traditionally, every locality in Kerala had a kalari training ground, and both boys and girls received training, says historian A Sreedhara Menon. Kalpana Sunder for The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W2TGOK673EX3GW456THSJZF23A.jpg?smart=true&auth=22dd36962ab5553886b35fa28ab31b91d777dc087b7f27c1ee144964f0ba76c4&width=400&height=225)
![The northern style of kalari focuses on flexibility, jumps and weapons training. Kalpana Sunder for The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AU3RDX5KFA44ZLLZQQXEIZMFMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3f7afe623a6601276e088fa82eb4253ae46d22533607de4b6d98b9521a1da32&width=400&height=225)
![Weapons training starts with stance correction, followed by handling wooden weapons, then metallic weapons and finally barehanded combat. Kalpana Sunder for The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SIUBY46GCB45P4L5ZK6E3U6SUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1ecc4219a04f021b985f2b7d9329c2081bd69a54bb8bbb2daec20a3f81d7418d&width=400&height=225)
![The southern style of kalari focuses on hand-to-hand combat and pressure point strikes. Kalpana Sunder for The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XZQCKTWHY6YNIBPUTN3YTAMMB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=56c0ed6c00416970aebb5c63fbd08cc52a28533bcfc4e56b32d1b389b63351d9&width=400&height=225)
![The Indian Sports Ministry included kalari as one of the four indigenous martial art forms for the Khelo India Youth Games 2021, which are due to start in November. Kalpana Sunder for The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WPJZICKXGN5VQ6XZBS5LXELWQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=9814d3e986c91e69f57c8d889981014da1c484ab91ec78556e11fec8e676a1a0&width=400&height=225)
![Kalari instructor Vipin Lagarto trains Bollywood actress Dia Mirza. Courtesy Vipin Lagarto](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CMUYOGH6T5GOPQTFDZ72OSDQYE.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d96ae7b78fffe1b32407e201e7864f5c0327d0ae0d75b7bcdc9631bd9aaf1e9&width=400&height=225)
![Vipin Lagarto embarked on his kalari journey at the age of 9 with a guru in Kerala before moving to Mumbai, where he trains others. Courtesy Vipin Lagarto](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FXMHPQYOPLHK7SGEB6M5UIDYUA.jpg?smart=true&auth=ac40dea7a2491ec25338f3e00b7fecae449c793fd935166e8888400c95e23467&width=400&height=225)
![Kalari boosts strength, stamina and flexibility. Courtesy Vipin Lagarto](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SGX73VPTDSCIONJD7TJL4UXHWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=65a57a5952125a5fbce658863e4d1c10596319fe95b947f9efdd0fd4c7ee5dff&width=400&height=225)
![The stances and poses in kalari are derived from the habits of eight 'warrior' animals: the lion, boar, cobra, elephant, tiger, horse, rooster and buffalo. Kalpana Sunder for The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5HDK54CVIBFBPHULTT7XS44KCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=21ba7295f0f7142c04c0b9556ce6cf84a7db308475e021beffe8807b5e9497b7&width=400&height=225)
![Kalari also involves the use of wooden sticks, and metal daggers and shields. Kalpana Sunder for The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XWGQFRHMUB72UVZBQW57SNF7UE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b1f796fb33872d3b118cf054eba7f02f58667045143ad2b07b3f54819baf5666&width=400&height=225)
![Traditionally, every locality in Kerala had a kalari training ground, and both boys and girls received training, says historian A Sreedhara Menon. Kalpana Sunder for The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W2TGOK673EX3GW456THSJZF23A.jpg?smart=true&auth=22dd36962ab5553886b35fa28ab31b91d777dc087b7f27c1ee144964f0ba76c4&width=400&height=225)
![The northern style of kalari focuses on flexibility, jumps and weapons training. Kalpana Sunder for The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AU3RDX5KFA44ZLLZQQXEIZMFMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3f7afe623a6601276e088fa82eb4253ae46d22533607de4b6d98b9521a1da32&width=400&height=225)
![Weapons training starts with stance correction, followed by handling wooden weapons, then metallic weapons and finally barehanded combat. Kalpana Sunder for The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SIUBY46GCB45P4L5ZK6E3U6SUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1ecc4219a04f021b985f2b7d9329c2081bd69a54bb8bbb2daec20a3f81d7418d&width=400&height=225)
![The southern style of kalari focuses on hand-to-hand combat and pressure point strikes. Kalpana Sunder for The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XZQCKTWHY6YNIBPUTN3YTAMMB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=56c0ed6c00416970aebb5c63fbd08cc52a28533bcfc4e56b32d1b389b63351d9&width=400&height=225)
![The Indian Sports Ministry included kalari as one of the four indigenous martial art forms for the Khelo India Youth Games 2021, which are due to start in November. Kalpana Sunder for The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WPJZICKXGN5VQ6XZBS5LXELWQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=9814d3e986c91e69f57c8d889981014da1c484ab91ec78556e11fec8e676a1a0&width=400&height=225)
![Kalari instructor Vipin Lagarto trains Bollywood actress Dia Mirza. Courtesy Vipin Lagarto](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CMUYOGH6T5GOPQTFDZ72OSDQYE.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d96ae7b78fffe1b32407e201e7864f5c0327d0ae0d75b7bcdc9631bd9aaf1e9&width=400&height=225)
![Vipin Lagarto embarked on his kalari journey at the age of 9 with a guru in Kerala before moving to Mumbai, where he trains others. Courtesy Vipin Lagarto](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FXMHPQYOPLHK7SGEB6M5UIDYUA.jpg?smart=true&auth=ac40dea7a2491ec25338f3e00b7fecae449c793fd935166e8888400c95e23467&width=400&height=225)
![Kalari boosts strength, stamina and flexibility. Courtesy Vipin Lagarto](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SGX73VPTDSCIONJD7TJL4UXHWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=65a57a5952125a5fbce658863e4d1c10596319fe95b947f9efdd0fd4c7ee5dff&width=400&height=225)
What is kalari? The world’s oldest martial art from India is making a comeback
The Indian Sports Ministry has included kalaripayattu as one of the four indigenous martial art forms for the Khelo India Youth Games 2021
Kalpana Sunder
May 31, 2021
May 31, 2021