Kalarippayattu: Difference between revisions

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(New page: '''Kalarippayattu''' can be traced back to the Vedic period. Legends say that around 525 AD an Indian Buddhist monk named Bodhidharama traveled to China and preached at t...)
 
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'''Kalarippayattu''' can be traced back to the [[Vedas|Vedic]] period. Legends say that around 525 AD an Indian Buddhist monk named [[Bodhidharama]] traveled to [[China]] and preached at the Shaolin temple. On finding the monks weak and listless, Bodhidharama taught them the eighteen hands of [[Buddha]] - a special set of exercises and from this evolved the Chinese art of [[Shaolin Kung-Fu|Shaolin Boxing]]. These eighteen hands of Buddha were said to be derived from the eighteen adavukal (adavu = technique), which form the base of the Vadakkan or northern style of Kalarippayattu. Slowly this fighting system spread to [[Japan]] and along with the fighting traditions already present in those regions, developed into many of today's [[martial arts]].
'''Kalarippayattu''' is an ancient [[martial arts|martial art]] that has its origins in the [[Kerala]] area of Southern [[India]], and can be traced back to the [[Vedas|Vedic]] period. Although the art itself is not well known outside of India, legend has it that around 525 AD an Indian Buddhist monk named [[Bodhidharma]] traveled to [[China]] to the [[Shaolin Temple]]. Upon finding the monks weak and listless, Bodhidharama taught them the eighteen hands of [[Buddha]], which later became known as the 18 Lohan Hands. This was a specialized set of exercises that had a profound effect on the martial arts of China, [[Shaolin Kung Fu]] in particular. These eighteen hands of Buddha were derived from the eighteen ''adavukal'' (adavu = technique) that form the basis of the ''Vadakkan'' or northern style of Kalarippayattu.

Revision as of 02:41, 24 January 2008

Kalarippayattu is an ancient martial art that has its origins in the Kerala area of Southern India, and can be traced back to the Vedic period. Although the art itself is not well known outside of India, legend has it that around 525 AD an Indian Buddhist monk named Bodhidharma traveled to China to the Shaolin Temple. Upon finding the monks weak and listless, Bodhidharama taught them the eighteen hands of Buddha, which later became known as the 18 Lohan Hands. This was a specialized set of exercises that had a profound effect on the martial arts of China, Shaolin Kung Fu in particular. These eighteen hands of Buddha were derived from the eighteen adavukal (adavu = technique) that form the basis of the Vadakkan or northern style of Kalarippayattu.