“A kick here and another one there!
A Lil practice can give em a scare!
It’s skill and not size that’s the game!
Karate or Kalari, what’s in a name!?”
The God’s own country and of course Bharath has a history which links it to China! Not political of course but Martial arts!
In the Novel The Golden Road by William Dalrymple he mentions among other things about the monk who taught martial arts to China!
read on!
When we were young some of the best movies we always used to watch when boys get together would be some Jackie Chan or Bruce lee movie!
Jackie Chan movies were always fun and light while Bruce lee movies were more serious!
In fact in many Jackie Movies, the main emphasis was actually on some stories like the Armour of God series or the Shadow series! The Karate or the martial art would come only towards the end!
The story would be so usual! First Jackie would not know Karate or would be meek and defeated by all! Then he would meet some old monk or teacher and over some time he would teach him some skills!
Then in the last fight everything would fall into place!
Only issues were some sudden embarrassing scenes in the middle and we getting pulled up by our parents! Though that was more for Bruce lee! Jackie Chan movies were usually kid friendly and fun!
Other movies like the Shaolin series and the most Famous Kung Fu Hustle also later became so famous!
The discipline and the skills needed used to make the boys go wild!
Later on when Tiger Shroff says in Baghi how he can go to China and learn Karate! HIs master tells him how the origin of Karate was from India you FOOL! (Now he may not have used these words but then!)
But yes! Of course so many people have different opinions but it has been agreed that the mother of all martial arts began right here in Kerala in a form called the Kalaripayattu and it was started by Parashurama! Now don’t do KARATE and fight me on this!
Kalaripayattu is a martial art which developed out of combat-techniques of the 11th-12th century battlefield, with weapons and combative techniques that are unique to Kerala!
The word Kalaripayattu is a combination of two Malayalam words – kalari (training ground or battleground) and payattu (training of martial arts), which is roughly translated as “practice in the arts of the battlefield”.
The origins may be debated but the fact remains that it was practiced long before martial arts became what it is!
But (he he!) it has been said that Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist Monk was an ardent practitioner of Kalaripayattu!
He was so enamoured by this combat style that he took it with him to China around 6th Century AD. Over there, Kalaripayattu evolved into Shaolin Kung Fu, which, in turn, birthed several other martial arts like Karate and Taekwondo over time!
The influence of Indian belief and religion like Buddhism over China and other countries can still be seen all over!
In fact there was a lady who rose from being a concubine to becoming the highest peak or greatest emperor of China who propagated the development and practice of Buddhism all over!
For now just remember that when you are learning or watching Karate, it is a piece of India which you are re-learning and be proud of that! The original teacher is Bodhidharma! Writing about teacher reminds me of birthday celebrity Pullela Gopichand!
Now enough Karate! Just meditate a little before you sleep!
Shubh Ratri!
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