Kalaripayattu is a
martial art which originated as a style in Kerala during the 13th Century AD. The word
kalari first appears in
Sangam literature to describe both a battlefield and combat arena. The word
kalari tatt denoted a martial feat, while
kalari kozhai meant a coward in war. Each warrior in the Sangam era received regular military training. It is considered to be one of the oldest fighting systems in existence. It is now practiced in
Kerala, in contiguous parts of
Tamil Nadu. It was originally practiced in northern and central parts of
Kerala and the
Tulunadu region of Karnataka.
