Paper: 2 Relationship Of Dance And Theatre, Study Of Rupaka And Uparupaka, Traditional Theatres Of India Module 31 Kalaripayattu And Thang-Ta In India, there are many regional forms of martial arts. Some forms of dance and dance-theatre have created most challenging and captivating forms with their amazing techniques. The resurgence of public interest in Kalaripayattu/कऱाररपायट्टू began in the 1920s in Tellicherry as part of a wave of rediscovery of the traditional arts throughout south India. It was perhaps the growing reaction against British colonial rule. Martial arts are a part of India’s ancient culture and a part of traditional games. Nowadays a sense of self-defense and a heightened understanding of fitness has interested a lot of people opting for training in the martial arts. This is one of the reasons that a lot of Indian dancers and choreographers got attracted to the various Indian martial forms. The breath control, postural perfection, balance, internalization are some of the most profound qualities which definitely makes the dancer and actor prepare better. 1 Since the martial art primarily dealt with warfare, injuries and wounds were inevitable and hence the science of kalari/कऱरी incorporated effective treatments from Ayurveda/आयुर्वेद for cure of wounds, burses, dislocations and fractures. Healing has always been an important part of martial arts. You cannot be a fighter without knowing how to heal your wounds. Treatments in Kalari make use of ayurvedic herbs and herbal preparations and provide instant relief. In addition, the practice of this martial art requires great deal of body flexibility, physical strength, extremely high levels of mental concentration and a synergy of the mind, body and soul to be able to attack and defend the body with extremely fast reflexes. The requisite physical fitness is acquired by making use of a disciplined regimen of yoga techniques. These yogasanas/योगासन being used for improving the flexibility have come to be called the “Kalari yoga/कऱरी योग”. The body is prepared for improving the flexibility by making use of Uzhichil/उजहिचिऱ or massages with specially prepared oils (with herbal extracts) which also provides an effective treatment for rheumatic complaints and nervous disorders. The mental strength, focus and concentration are improved by means of meditation, pranayama/प्राणायाम and yoga practice. Hence, Kalari has 2 incorporated kalari yoga and kalari ayurvedic/आयुर्वेहदक treatments (including massages) too. Kalaripayattu, is a tradition of “art of war” known in the regions of Tami Nadu and Kerala. Kalaripayattu is one of the oldest fighting systems in existence. The martial art form is regarded as the oldest and most scientific of its kind in the world. Kalari indicates a “training centre” while payattu/पायट्टू means “practices”. Today there are three branches of Kalaripayattu: northern, central and southern Kalaripayattu was originally a secret method of the Nairs, the members of the warrior caste of Kerala. It was practiced only in specific kalari buildings. Everywhere in Asia, martial arts have a very long history, often extending to prehistoric times. According to the popular mythology, is it the warrior sage Parasurama who promulgated Kalaripayattu. Literary evidence from around 200 AD exists in South India indicating the existence of martial arts. There are many regional forms of martial arts in India. Their techniques are employed in some forms of dance and dance-theatre. The primeval influence and impact of martial disciplines on the development of various folk art forms and classical and modern theatre is an accepted and well-known fact. The innate potential of Kalaripayattu as a worthy component of folk art 3 forms and theatre has obtrusively remained as the warp and weft of the social fabric of Kerala. It is the best Indian martial art that has been used in many movies to make it popular, like Ashoka and The Myth. Some of the regional martial art forms are as under: Andhra Pradesh: The native system of chedi talimkhana/िेडी ताऱीमखंड or yudhkaushalya/युद्धकौश쥍य che talim/िे तालऱम is often abbreviated to talimkhana/तालऱमखाना or simply talim/तालऱम. Bengal and Bangladesh: Dao khela/दार्व खेऱ (knife fighting) and Fala khela/फऱ खेऱ (sword fighting), Lathi khela/ऱाठी खेऱ (traditional stick- fighting) Karnataka: Unarmed combat (kai varase/कई र्वरसे), staff-fighting (kolu varase/कोऱू र्वरस)े and sword-fighting (katti varase/कट्टी र्वरसे) Kashmir: Sqay/सके , Khawankay/खार्वंके Maharashtra: Mardani khel/मदाानी खेऱ Kerala: Kalaripayyatu/कऱाररपाय्यट्टू (sword-fighting) Odisha: Pari-Khanda/परी खंड (paika akhada/पाइका अखाड़ा) 4 Punjab: Gatka/गटका, lathi/ऱाठी Rajasthan: Shastara-vidiya/शास्त्रवर्वहदया Bengal: Lathi/ऱाठी Tamil Nadu: Silambam/लसऱंबम, Varma Kalai/र्वमाा कऱाई, Adi Thadi/आहद थडी, Malyutham Kusthi/म쥍युथं कु स्त्ती Training progresses from footwork and stances to unarmed techniques, blunt weapons, and finally to edged weapons. Energetic footwork, executed mainly with the outer edge of the soles is the focus of Kalaripayattu technique. Footwork patterns is the most important key in Kalarippayattu. It consists of kicking movements and extremely high jumping. Kalaripayattu can be divided into several armed forms and unarmed techniques. The most common weapons today are the staff, stick, sword, shield, spear, dagger and flexible sword. The weapons also include a three-bladed knife, axes, and other local types of weapons. Many of the movement units are named after various animals and they clearly imitate animal movements. This is a common feature in many of the martial arts traditions in Asia. Kalaripayattu seems to confirm the long roots of these traditions, extending back to pre-historical times, when contact with the animal world was intensively close. 5 In Kalaripayattu, the body is used as weapon. The body is trained to become extremely elastic, quick and powerful through years of practice and oil massage. The principles of Kalari education stipulate that training in martial art begins with an oil massage of the body which goes on until the body is agile and supple. Body conditioning exercises form the foundation of all other exercises in Kalarippayattu. These calisthenics are to endow one with an agile and supple body, a graceful gait, stamina, strength, balance of body and stability of foot work. Feats like chaattom/िा配तोम (jumping), ottam/ओ配配तम (running), marichil/मररचिऱ (somersault) etc. are then taught, followed by the lessons in the use of weapons such as daggers, swords, spears, maces, the bow and arrow and so on. Many of kalaripapayattu’s elements, were adopted later by the kathakali dance-drama, particularly the stamping on the outer edge of the sole and the jumping method. Body conditioning exercises form the foundation of all other exercises in Kalarippayattu. These calisthenics are to endow one with an agile and supple body, a graceful gait, stamina and strength, balance of body and stability of foot work. The primeval influence and impact of martial disciplines on the development of various folk art forms and classical and modern theatre is an accepted and well 6 known fact. Out of the boundless pan-Indian cultural scenario, we can pull together any number of paradigms for this. Kalari is the Malayalam word for a traditionally built gymnasium to teach the martial art known as Payattu. The four stages of Payattu are: a) Maippayattu/मैप्पय配तु b) Kolthari/कोऱथारी c) Angathari/अन्गथारीd) Verumkai/र्वे셁म्कई which means 1) Body conditioning exercise 2) Use of wooden weapons 3) Use of sharp metallic weapons 4) Bare – handed defence and attack respectively. Kalaripayattu training aims at the ultimate co-ordination of the mind and body. The traditional training in a kalari includes specialisation in indigenous medical practice too. Kalaris are also centers of religious worship. The general guidelines to be followed in Kalaripayattu demand that once the course is complete, a person should undergo oil massage and engage in the practice of the feats regularly to help him keep in shape. Kalarippayattu is considered as the most comprehensive of all the martial art traditions because it has: An excellent system of physical training. 7 Very effective self-defense techniques - both armed and unarmed. A great system of vital pressure points based system of fighting and treatment using the principles of Ayurveda. A comprehensive guide to attaining the flexibility and desired physical and mental strength required to practice this martial art. It incorporates and links with ayurveda and has developed its system of healing and treatment for injuries that may arise as a result of the practice of Kalari. A great philosophy based on the Vedic culture of India. Kalari is very closely associated with dance, sometimes practiced as a pre-dance exercise. Many experts of Kalaripayyatu have integrated the nuances of martial movements, yoga and exercises for teaching and body training for dancers. The classes begin with breathing exercises and warm-up. The exercises and Yogasanas are practiced to enhance flexibility and body control. They have modified the teaching methodology with a blend of traditional practices and modern life’s requirements. 8 THANG TA/थांग ता is a popular term for the ancient Manipuri Martial Art known as Huyen Lallong/िुएन ऱा쥍ऱⴂग . The art developed from the war environment of the tiny state of Manipur in North-east India, which was an independent kingdom since the early Christian era. It played an important role in the geopolitical environment of medieval times in between India and China with many independent states at war with each other. Constant life and death struggles between clans, tribes and states resulted in the devising of ways and means of safeguarding the lives of the citizen, soldiers and at the same time developing an inward attitude to problems of life, death and afterlife.