Have you ever watched those videos of Kalaripayattu practitioners zip across spaces and fling themselves in the air like a jedi with swords (not light sabers!)? We watched it slack-jawed and never thought of getting in their way. But with Hour Glass Showcase in Alipore conducting classes on Kalaripayattu, we're ready to sign up for a combat session.
Often called the 'mother of all martial arts', Kalaripayattu is an ancient Indian martial art form and combat system that originated in Kerala. It's among the oldest combat arts forms. Definitely more than a simple self-defence training, it is known to strengthen one's overall stamina, flexibility and confidence.
Hour Glass Showcase has roped in master trainer Sylvester Mardi (he was trained in Kalaripayattu at the Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, Bangalore, and has been practising it for the last 10 years) to teach us the fundamental movements of it. Perfect for noobs, the Kalaripayattu classes will be conducted twice every week (Wednesday and Sunday) from 4-5pm. These will help you enhance your kinesthetic awareness, peripheral vision and improve your inner physical strength. Old or young, the hour-long classes are open for all (though only those above 10 years are allowed).