Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the preservation of a nation's intangible cultural heritage.
Kalaripayattu is an Indian martial art that originated in Kerala, a state on the southwestern coast of India during the 11th–12th century CE.
Krabi-Krabong is a weapon-based martial art from Thailand. It is closely related to other Southeast Asian fighting styles such as Pencak Silat Indonesia, Burmese banshay and Cambodian kbach kun boran. The royal bodyguard corps of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej were said to be highly trained in krabi-krabong.
Bōjutsu is the martial art of stick fighting using a bō, which is the Japanese word for staff. Staffs have been in use for thousands of years in Asian martial arts like Silambam. Some techniques involve slashing, swinging, and stabbing with the staff. Others involve using the staff as a vaulting pole or as a prop for hand-to-hand strikes.
Gatka is a form of martial art associated primarily with the Sikhs of the Punjab and other related ethnic groups, such as Hindkowans. It is a style of stick-fighting, with wooden sticks intended to simulate swords. The Punjabi name, gatka, refers to the wooden stick used and this term might have originated as a diminutive of a Sanskrit word, gada, meaning "mace".
Banshay is a weapon-based martial art from Myanmar focusing primarily on the sword, staff and spear. Influenced by both Indian and Chinese sources, it is closely related to similar Southeast Asian systems such as Thai krabi krabong, Cambodian kbach kun boran and Malay silat.
Stick-fighting, stickfighting, or stick fighting, is a variety of martial arts which use simple long, slender, blunt, hand-held, generally wooden "sticks" for fighting, such as a gun staff, bō, jō, walking stick, baston, arnis sticks or similar weapons. Some techniques can also be used with a sturdy umbrella or even with a sword or dagger in its scabbard.
Tahtib is the term for a traditional stick-fighting martial art originally named fan a'nazaha wa-tahtib. The original martial version of tahtib later evolved into an Egyptian folk dance with a wooden stick. It is commonly described in English as a "stick dance", "cane dance", "stick-dancing game", or as ritual mock combat accompanied by music. Nowadays, the word tahtib encompasses both martial practice and performance art. It is mainly practiced today in Upper Egypt. Tahtib is regularly performed for tourists in Luxor and Aswan.
Indian martial arts refers to the fighting systems of the Indian subcontinent. A variety of terms are used for the English phrases "Indian martial arts", deriving from ancient sources. While they may seem to imply specific disciplines, by Classical times they were used generically for all fighting systems.
Jūkendō (銃剣道) is the Japanese martial art of bayonet fighting, and has been likened to kendo.
Huiyen Lallong is a traditional Meitei martial art form. It is one of the Indian martial arts, originating from Manipur. In the Meitei language, Huiyen means war while Lallong or Lanlong can mean net, knowledge or art. Huiyen Langlon consists of two main subforms: Thang-Ta and Sarit Sarak. The primary weapons of Huiyen Lallong are the Thang (sword) and Ta (spear). The spear can be used in its non-missile form while up close, or thrown from afar. Other weapons include the shield and the axe. Unarmed combat incorporates hand strikes, kicks, and grappling (Mukna). Because of Manipur's cultural similarity and geographical proximity with Myanmar, huyen langlon is closely related to Burmese bando and banshay.
Kurinjimala Sanctuary protects the approximately 32 hectare core habitat of the endangered Neelakurinji plant in the Kottakamboor and Vattavada villages in Devikulam Taluk, in the Idukki district of Kerala, a state in southern India.
Tamil culture is the culture of the Tamil people. Tamil culture is rooted in the arts and ways of life of Tamils in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and across the globe. It has a long history of diversified heritage and cultural distinctions.
Varma Kalai is a Tamil traditional art of vital points. It combines massage, alternative medicine, traditional yoga and martial arts in which the body's pressure points (varmam) are manipulated to heal or cause harm. The healing application called Vaidhiya Murai is part of Siddha medicine.
Parai also known as Thappattai or Thappu is a traditional percussion instrument from South India. It is a traditional instrument used to make announcements and played during festivals, folk dances, weddings and functions. The instrument in played predominantly by Tamil people in Tamil Nadu and other regions with significant Tamil diaspora such as Sri Lanka. There are many variants of the instrument, but generally consists of a drum made of wood, open on one side and closed with a stretched animal hide on the other side along with two wooden sticks used for beating the drum.
Savuku is the Tamil word for whip, used both for domestic purposes and traditionally also in hand-to-hand fighting. Its combat application is taught in the Indian martial arts, most notably in silambam and kalaripayat, as well as Indo-Malay silat. Whip techniques in silambam are known as savuku adi and are generally performed from mid-range.
The Silambam Asia (SILA) is the official international body of Silambam for the Continent of Asia and a Non-Governmental Organization recognized by the World Silambam Association (WSA). On November 22, 1999, the primary name of Silambam, which originated from the ancient Tamil Nadu State of India, was documented by Guruji Murugan Chillayah to become the official organization name to provide Indian traditional arts and sports for education, health, fitness, culture, nature, climate change, recreation, and dissemination work. The primary name Silambam was legally registered and recognized as a formalized organization after receiving security clearance approval from the Regulatory Authority. It was followed by the formation of Silambam Asia, registered with members from twelve countries on the Asia continent and officially recognized by the United Nations, which has expanded and grown further throughout the Asia continent and worldwide. Silambam Asia (SILA) is in partnership with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to preserve and safeguard the Indian traditional arts, sports, cultural and educational content within Silambam at the regional or continental by the establishment of Silambam Asia with the Ministry of Home Affairs (JPPM) in Malaysia.
The World Silambam Association (WSA) is the official international body of Silambam for Worldwide and a recognized Non-Governmental Organization. On 22 November 1999, the primary name of Silambam, which originated from the ancient Tamil Nadu State of India, was documented by Guruji Murugan Chillayah to become the official organization name to provide Indian traditional arts and sports for education, health, fitness, culture, nature, climate change, recreation, and dissemination work. The primary name Silambam was legally registered and recognized as a formalized organization after receiving security clearance approval from the Regulatory Authority. It was followed by the formation of Silambam Asia, registered with members from twelve countries on the Asia continent and officially recognized by the United Nations, which has expanded and grown further throughout the Asia continent and worldwide. The World Silambam Association which was established with the Ministry of Home Affairs (JPPM) in Malaysia, has more than 25 country members from five continents worldwide and is rapidly expanding to preserve and safeguard the essence of Silambam worldwide. World Silambam Association (WSA) was officially recognized by the United Nations and is in partnership with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Adimurai is an Indian martial art originating in modern-day Kanyakumari, the southernmost region in India. It was traditionally practiced in the Kanyakumari district of modern-day Tamil Nadu as well as nearby areas in southeastern Kerala. Its preliminary empty-hand techniques are called Adithada and application of vital points are called Varma Adi, although these terms are sometimes interchangeably used to refer to the martial art itself. Adimurai is a portmanteau in the Tamil language where adi means "to hit or strike" and murai means method or procedure. In modern period it is used alongside other Tamil martial arts.
Murugan Chillayah, also well known as Guruji Murugan, is a Malaysian Indian of Indian ancestry who is a teacher of several Indian traditional arts, a yoga guru, and a spiritual leader. He is frequently referred to as Guruji (honorific). He was initiated as a guru in 1996 during Arrangetram in Sri Subramaniar Temple, Malaysia. Since then, he has been teaching traditional yoga that carries out educational and spiritual activities such as pranayama, meditation, and asana, which are integrated with Silambam, Kuttu Varisai, and Varma Kalai. In 2014, Murugan took part in the Upanayana rite of passage ceremony. He has been initiated as a Brahmacharya and took vows of renunciation, with the full ceremony conducted to adopt the Sannyasa pathway in Rishikesh, India. He is the founder and chairperson of the Silambam Asia, World Silambam Association, and World Yoga Association. Guruji also advocates and leads many international initiatives for the Indian Traditional Arts of 5R in partnership with United Nations SDGS programs, United Nations SDGS Action Campaign for Yoga, United Nations SDGS Action Campaign for Silambam and many others.
