I now have a Kalari Madyama certificate that says I have successfully completed three months of training.
My kicks look like this –
But it didn’t start like this.
The Dream and the Reality
I had been dreaming about learning Kalaripayattu in Kerala for over a year before I finally made it to Athma Kalari Village. As much as I was excited, I was also nervous—because let’s be real, I wasn’t all that fit and had zero martial arts background. So, when I booked my spot three months in advance, I immediately signed up for a gym, hoping to build strength and stamina to make learning easier.
Turns out, Kalaripayattu had other plans.
Kalari Is More Than Just A Martial Art
The gym helped, sure. But Kalari? It tested everything—strength, stamina, flexibility, and something I hadn’t expected… grace. It wasn’t just about fighting or fitness. There was something about the way it flowed that made me fall in love with it, despite being knocked out of breath every other minute.
Take kicks, for example. My kicks were barely above my waist when I started. But here, you don’t just stand in one place kicking into the air endlessly (which, let’s be honest, would’ve bored me to death). Instead, it’s a sequence:
- You start with a prayer to the floor.
- Get into the kicking stance.
- Kick your right leg forward, swing it back, place it forward.
- Kick your left leg forward, swing it back, place it forward.
- You move, you flow, you cross the Kalari floor this way.
- At the end, you finish with a set of movements—crossing your hands near your chest, turning right, completing a finishing sequence.
And that’s just one type of kick! There are straight kicks, in-to-out, out-to-in, cross kicks, and a few others that make you feel like a warrior-in-the-making.
The crazy part? Even before my mind fully understood the movements, my body did. On my very first day, people asked if I had trained before. (Instant confidence boost, not gonna lie.) Even Ashan asked if I was a dancer. And that’s exactly what it felt like—a dance of strength, agility, and attack.
That’s why it felt right.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
Month 1: Pure Adrenaline
I threw myself into training. Barely missed a class. Morning and evening sessions, and in between? I’d sleep, eat, and work. Looking back, I think adrenaline, excitement, and (let’s be real) the validation I got kept me going. My body wasn’t fully ready for the intensity, but I didn’t care—I was just happy to be moving.
Read the full story of the first month here – A Journey into Kalaripayattu at a Gurukul in Kerala
Month 2: Crashing
Then came the fatigue. My body caught up with the intensity. I needed more rest. And to top it off, I injured my knee during a video shoot. Slowing down felt unbearable. I hated missing classes. I hated resting. It felt like I was wasting my time there.
But something shifted.
I started listening to my body instead of fighting it. Normally, I’m the type to use an injury as an excuse to happily become a couch potato. But this time, I wanted to move—even when my knee hurt. I realized that even in the first month, when I’d get scrapes and cuts from the Kalari floor, I never stopped. That was new. That gave me a kind of mental strength I hadn’t known before.
And then, the unexpected happened—the rest made me better.
After a few days of recovery, suddenly, my body opened up. My kicks got higher. My posture improved. My interest was renewed. And as my movements refined, so did the flow.
Month 3: Mindset
By the third month, I kind of figured out my rhythm. I trained, but I also rested when I needed to—without feeling like I was wasting time. I worked around my injury instead of fighting it. And funny enough, that actually made me better. I finally got that kick straight!
This month came with a few extra things. Athma Kalari Village opened a new branch, and I got to perform at the inauguration. Then, I was part of a performance at a temple festival—the first of the season, with many more lined up. I no longer felt like just a visitor training for a few months. I had become part of this place, this practice, this rhythm.
Leaving wasn’t in the least bit easy!
Also read: A Peek Into the Gurukulam Way of Life
The Most Meaningful Shift
Kalaripayattu showed me what my body is capable of—if only I train it regularly and give it ample rest.
I’ve never been great at home workouts. I only move when I’m in a group class where I have to move. And I’ve always done just enough to get by, thanks to a genetically decent body. But I’m getting older. I need to move and strengthen mindfully if I want to stay fit and functional for a long time.
Kalari made me realize this—it made me want to do more. To stay flexible, strong, and ready for whatever movement form I fall in love with next. To find ways to keep moving so that I’m ready.
Will I Come Back to Kalari?
I have a feeling I’ll complete the TTC (teacher training course). With my Madyama certificate, I only need four more months of training. And honestly? There are a few weapons I really want to explore.
But it’s not just Kalari I fell in love with. It’s the place. The people. The way life moves at Athma Kalari Village.
And next time? I don’t think I’ll be going alone.
