Courses program

Kalaripayat courses given by Master Shyne Tharappel Thankappan :
   
Schedule: Monday at 5.30 PM and Thursday at 5 PM (the lessons last between 1h30 and 1h45)

Information and inscription: (0033)1-43-06-38-87.


Lessons are given maximum 3 times a week.
Minimum age required: 6-7years old, and even younger.
No maximum age limit.
Training courses are given during sessions which last from 2 to 3 hours.                        


                                                        To start with                                             20 mn

- Prayer to Kali, protector of kalaripayat, to Ganesh, who removes obstacles and for previous masters.
- Short account of the origin of Kalaripayat and the different Kalaripayat styles.

                                           Warming-up exercises                                             20 mn

1. Breathing exercises
There are six of them. They aim at oxygenating muscles and at preparing for the concentration required for the training.

2. Gradual warming-up exercises for all joints. 
From the neck to finger toes. 

3. Warming-up exercises for muscles with ground stretching.

4. Work on legs.
  
- Standing position in order to develop suppleness and reactivity.
- Jumps pertaining to kalaripayat
- Elephant position, horse position... standing on bent legs.

5. Work on arms, bodybuilding and reactivity.
- Crocodile step, lizard step ...

                                                                       Training                                      60 mn

6. Practise of kalukal
First six modes of attack and parry / defence with the legs; in all there are 14 ways of attacking and countering the opponent; these methods are gradually dealt with according to the student’s progress.

7. Practise of meïpayattu
Sequences of dodgings and attacks :
- Halfway down (bending of legs)
- Standing
- Jumps
- Use of legs
- Use of torso and arms
- Use of shoulders, knees and buttocks
Kalaripayat includes 12 meïpayattu.

                                                      To end the session                                       10 mn

Breathing exercises

Prayer

Step by step, the master assesses the techniques mastered by the students and teaches armed-combat superior techniques (with wooden and metal weapons) only to those who are mature enough (because those techniques are more dangerous).  The last step consists in teaching hand-to-hand combat techniques as well as kalari-ayurvedic massages.