Author : Payoj Fernandes
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Kalari Pāyaṭṭu is a martial art practiced in Tuḷunāḍụ (Taulava) and Malanadu(Kerala) in South India. There are four major styles (sampradayams) in Kalari Pāyaṭṭu. Out of which ‘Tuḷunāḍan’ is considered the best. According to some Tulu folklore, Guru Nāṇaya is the founder of Tulunadan Kalari. In the olden times, Kalari students from Kerala used to go to Tulunadu Kalaris to learn the various tricks of Kalari. The Northern Ballads and other folktales in Malayalam literature refer to Tulunadan Kalari and Tulunadan Gurukkal, in which the Kalari Guru Koti Baidya of Tulunad is also mentioned.
Some Malayalam Folklores say, Famous Kalari fighters like Arongodan Chekavar, and Thaccholi othenan studied Tulunadan Kalari by crossing Kadattnadu, Koalttanadu(Nileshwara) from where historical Tulunad starts.
According to Malayalam ballads, there were 50 kalaris in Tulunadu and 42 in Kadattanadu (Kadppunadu in Tulu), and 18 in Kolattanadu, which were owned by Bunt/Nair, Biruvas/Thiya but if we see today’s Tulunad there are 122 spiritual Garadis which doesn’t teach any martial arts which are just worshipping centers of Biruva community some are owned by Bunts.
It was built in memory of Tuluva Legends of the 16th century CE namely Kōṭi and Chennaya, many of them are built in the 19th century and 20th century by the Biruva community who wanted to have their own spiritual centers.
But there are 5 non Baiderlù Garodis in the Udupi district and Karkala taluk out of one is Nanayas Garodi in Periyadka from where legend Koti Chennaya learnt martial arts, but now that also turned into just merely a worship center of Jumadi and other Deyyolù(spirits). Tulunadan kalaripayattu in vadakkan style is better in all aspects. It was written in the history and vadakkan songs, that brave men like Thacholi Othenan, Chandu, etc., who have obtained training in kalaripayattu, had gone to Tulunadan Kalari and undergone further studies and rectified the defects in the training already obtained. Though Malayalis have preserved the Kalari, Tulunadan Kalari has extinct in the region where it has emerged
Tulunadan Style: Vadivu (different body expressions, and movements that mimic different animals), Chuvadu(footwork or steps), Thayam (waiting for a chance to attack), and Thancham (to make use of that chance) are highly stressed in Tulunadan payattu, which makes it the highest among the other styles. Powerful and defined foot movements, the ability to execute the counter-attack and the quality of the techniques is considered the best in Tulanadan.
Tulunadan Kalari / Garadipett was actively practiced in the Tulunad region about 300 years ago, when the British government banned the practice of Kalari, all the Garadi training centers were converted into Daiva/Bhoota shrines. Now this style is taught in only a few Kalari Schools of Kerala.
THE BENEFITS OF TULUNADAN KALARIPAYATTU:- Physical & mental development, physical flexibility, neural strength, the art of self-defense, eye control, sharp reflexes, patience, regularization of difficulties due to arthritis, bronchitis diseases, discipline, obedience, strengthen the protection from disease, skill to handle weapons, destroy the fear of weapon, etc.
