Comparing Indian and Persian Physical Culture

[Scott Sonnon]

Comparing Indian and Persian Exercise Traditions

[lorenzodamarith]

hello,

interesting article coach sonnon! the vyayam "sounds" similar to the practices of kelari payat (trans.: gymnastic exercise).

not an expert on kelari payat, but it is said that, before a student is allowed to train, they spend at least a month with a guru doing exercises to make the body supple enough for training.

this process seems to have a lot in common with cst!

thanks

[jerry.mobbs]

Very interesting read

Thanks

[deckard]

...
not an expert on kelari payat, but it is said that, before a student is allowed to train, they spend at least a month with a guru doing exercises to make the body supple enough for training.

this process seems to have a lot in common with cst!

thanks

Lorenzo,

as far as I know beginner students have to spend several month working with a handfull of BMEs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW_2l2CRU6o

In this documentation from the 80ies you see advanced students train leg swoops (exactly the same way shown in FF) for example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EThrd...eature=related

[Scott Sonnon]

Lorenzo,

I will be visiting my teacher's ashram in Kerala in 2009, and while there have plans to study Kalaripayatt with Guru Menon. How could I not study the martial art of Kerala?!

[lorenzodamarith]

hello,

deckard, appreciate the videos. agreed. there is a lot in common with FlowFit®.

marma adi is interesting. the master says "if you must fight, use only the half hand (meaning pull your punches). using the full hand will kill".

coach sonnon, it will be interesting to hear your perspective on this system.

thanks

[hammer_2020]

Interesting to note how the northern kalari styles appear to be more weapon-oriented - their initial empty-hand training being preparation for movement required in weaponed fighting - while the southern styles seem to place more emphasis on empty hand combat.

[deckard]

Lorenzo,

If I remember right, he adds later he means using only forearm and open hand techniques likes slaps. I know this approach from the empty hand part of different FMA styles but with a different background and purpose.

James,
I am not an expert and never recieved any kalari training just have watched several documentaries. But I guess someone said the northern styles are more striking oriented and uses weapon training for attribute developement. That would make perfectly sense for me with my FMA background. The southern styles are more wrestling oriented and need a different approach. I don't knwo if it's true and if... why it is. Maybe it has a political/cultural history like the sword oriented MA development in Japan opposed to the more empty hand or improvised weapon development on Okinawa. Or geographical reasons like a more stable ground opposed to a slippery muddy ground have influenced different indonesian MAs. But this is all guessing.

[lorenzodamarith]

hello,

deckard, yes. something like hubud/lubud (application is a bit different though).

hammer_2020, as far as geographical differences in the way norther and southern are practiced, this is largely to do with the former mogul rulers of india. they all lived in the north. naturally, they were far more likely to carry weapons than their subjects in the south. wrestling on the other hand was widely practiced by nearly every caste or class all over the world (at that time).

interesting stuff!

thanks

[lorenzodamarith]

Lorenzo,

I will be visiting my teacher's ashram in Kerala in 2009, and while there have plans to study Kalaripayatt with Guru Menon. How could I not study the martial art of Kerala?!

hello,

coach sonnon, it would be really great to see something of this on your blog! will any of the other coaches accompany you?

thanks