MARTIAL ART
The ancient Tamils paid a great deal of attention to physical care and development of the body. They believed that looking after the body was a very important aspect of life and if the body was not carefully tended to, all the education and wealth gathered in life was of little use. Hence, in the olden days, tamil people encouraged youth to get involved in games, sports and various kinds of physical activities.here were many exercise centres similar to today's gymnasia. They were known as Poravai, Murankalari etc. Kalari is a word used to denote physical training centres and martial art training centres in Kerala, even today. The teachers who train students in these arts are known as 'Kalaripanickar'.
These physical training activities were mostly popular with the young men. Men had the duty to protect the motherland and hence needed to be well informed about martial arts. During times of peace, they kept their pysical fitness at optimum level by involving in competitions and tournaments of all sorts.
During the Pallava and Chola period, there was a revival of interest in developing the martial arts. The Pallava reign saw a great improvement in the art of wrestling. Narasimhavarman, a Pallava king was an expert in this art and had the title 'Mamallan', meaning a great wrestler.
SLIMBAM
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| This is a very popular form of martial art, which has survived the tests of time. The name is derived from the whishing and whooshing noise created by the movement of the pole used in this combat. In Malayalam, it is known as Neduvari, in Kannada-Thanda Varisai, in Telugu-Karadi Aatta. Generally youth and middle-aged men involve in this. They fight with long bamboo poles. During the fight one has to protect oneself from being hit by the opponent's pole. It is used for self protection and exercise. Eye, leg and hand co-ordination is very necessary. Movements of beating, swinging the pole and circling the pole are involved. Quick steps, jumping and running are also essential. It can be practised one against one or one against many. Success is indicated when one manages to knock the pole from the opponent's hand. Expert care is given to the practice of preventing the opponent's pole from touching one's body and also to touching of other's body with one's own pole. In Tamilnadu, Silambattam is popular in the southern districts, particularly in Tirunelveli district. This district has given birth to many famous silambatta experts like Kattabomman, Umaithurai, Marudhupandi etc. The person who teaches this art is known as Silambam Vaathiyar or Aasan. This art was practised as a game during festival times, accompanied by song and music. In Jalli Kambu method, the opponents fight with each other armed with two short sticks of two and half feet length. MALYUTHAM
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