The Kalaripayattu reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Kalaripayattu

Kalaripayattu from Kerala, India is probably the oldest still-practiced Martial Arts form in the world. It is said that Bodhidharma took this art form to China, which it is claimed to have evolved into Kung Fu and other forms of Chinese martial arts. There is archaeological and textual evidence of Chinese martial arts that predate the introduction of Buddhism to China, however.

Kalaripayattu is practised inside a Kalari, which is an arena. This was originally practised by the fighters or warriors of Kerala. Nowadays, it is just a sacred art form and the popularity is dying. Kalaripayattu also shows a strong influence of Ayurveda and major classical danceforms of Kerala.

External link:

• http://www.kalaripayattu.org

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