Move aside Karate and Taekwondo. Kerala’s own Kalaripayattu is set to thrill school students here through a programme meant to popularise the ancient martial art form.
‘Arogyavum Athmaviswasavum Kalarippayattiloode’ (Health and Confidence through Kalaripayattu), an initiative of the Travancore School of Kalaripayattu, Thiruvananthapuram, will be launched in schools in the district on Wednesday. If things go as planned, at least 100 schools in the aided and unaided sectors will host one Kalaripayattu demonstration in an academic year.
The programme is being launched at the Karthika Thirunal Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Manacaud, at 12.30 pm on Wednesday. ‘’The demonstration will cover all aspects of the art - from free hand fighting to stick fighting to weapons like sword and ‘urumi’ - in half an hour. The idea is to give students a feel of what Kalaripayattu is all about. If the schools apply to us for regular classes, we will conduct training sessions. Regular classes will lay stress more on free hand forms and stick fighting,’’ secretary and group leader, Travancore School of Kalaripayattu, G Radhakrishnan said.
The classes mainly target high school and plus-one boys and girls. ‘’Last year, we conducted a demo at the SMV School, and then held classes in ten schools. This year, some schools have made enquiries,’’ he said.
Travancore School will have to tweak traditions a bit for its school project. Other martial arts such as Karate or Taekwondo can be taught just about anywhere. But Kalaripayattu is different. For instance, schools don’t have the traditional ‘kalari.’ ‘’We will be conducting classes on the school ground. But in other respects, we will stick to tradition,’’ Radhakrishnan said.
Over the years, Kalaripayattu has taken a backseat, while oriental martial arts such as Karate, Taekwondo and Kung Fu have found popularity in schools in the State. The government has issued orders allowing the Travancore School of Kalaripayattu
to conduct demonstrations in schools once a year. If found successful, the programme can be extended to schools in other districts also, the Government noted.