Varma adi or Marma adi ("hitting vital spots") is the advanced striking techniques directed to the vital spots of the body to injure or kill an opponent. The harming part "Varma Adi" and the healing part "Varma Vaidhyam" are collectively called Varma Kalai (Tamil: வர்மக்கலை, Malayalam: വർമക്കല) Marma Vidhya, It is a component of adi murai "law of hitting" which is a martial art which practiced in the southern parts of Kerala and Tamil nadu
This system is attributed to the Tamil sage Agastya and his disciples.[1]
It is practiced in southern parts of Tamil Nadu and in the South Travancore region of Kerala. It is supposedly derived from traditional Siddha medicine.[2]
The Kerala Kalarippayat Association formed in 1958 started claiming kalaripiyattu was an umbrella term for all martial arts practiced in the state of Kerala and termed "Adi Murai" and its component Marma adi as "southern style" of Kalarippayattu although its techniques origins and application are recognized as distinct from those of Kalarippayattu, a style practiced in northern part of Kerala which was traditionally known as "Payatt". "Adi Murai" emphasise empty hand techniques.[3] Southern Kalaripayat is practiced in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu,and Kollam and Thiruvanandapuram districts of Kerala[3][4][5] of erstwhile Travancore areas.
Pressure points [edit]
Varma adi recognizes 108 marmas, 12 Padu marmas (death marmas) and 96 Thodu marmas (touch marmas). There are also counter marmas to heal trauma to the marmas.[6]
References [edit]
- ^ Luijendijk, D.H. (2005) Kalarippayat: India's Ancient Martial Art, Paladin Press
- ^ Varma Ati. (2001). In Martial Arts of the World.
- ^ a b Zarrilli 1998
- ^ [1] Martial arts of the world: an encyclopedia, Volume 1 By Thomas A. Green
- ^ Zarrilli 1992
- ^ Luijendijk, D.H. Kalarippayat: The Essence and Structure of an Indian Martial Art, Oprat, 2008
External links [edit]
- Zarrilli, Phillip B. To Heal and/or To Harm: The Vital Spots (Marmmam/Varmam) in Two South Indian Martial Traditions University of Exeter.
- Varma Kalai by Mahesh Kumar - www.silambam.in
- Tamizhagattin Veerakalaigal by VarmakalaiArasan Dr K Kannan Aasan
- Tamil Nadu Varmakalai Association-http://mahayogavarmakalai.org
- Philipp B. Zarrilli, 'Varma ati' in: Thomas A. Green (ed.), Martial arts of the world: an encyclopedia, ABC-CLIO, 2001, ISBN 978-1-57607-150-2, 647-651.
- Asan, Ramu & Nadar, K.Kochukrishnan; "Tekkan Kalriyude Marmam". Published by K.Kochukrishnan Nadar, Kerala, 1970
- Luijendijk, D.H. (2005) Kalarippayat: India's Ancient Martial Art, Paladin Press, ISBN 1-58160-480-7
- Luijendijk, D.H. (2008) Kalarippayat: The Essence and Structure of an Indian Martial Art, Oprat, ISBN 978-1-4092-2626-0
- Asan, Ramu & Nadar, K.Kochukrishnan; "Tekkan Kalriyude Marmam". Published by K.Kochukrishnan Nadar, Kerala, 1970
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