Kalaripayat: The Martial Arts Tradition of India

This book, "Kalaripayat" concerns Kalaripayat in all of its aspects -- which are all the aspects of a full "Health-Defense Art". Actually "Kalaripayat" presents an overview of the whole "Kalaripayat World" -- the common Tradition of the Kalaripayat Arts as well as their more localized variants -- such as the Northern and Southern spectrum as explained in summary on pages 46 and 47 -- and elsewhere as well. Presented is a FULL background to the Kalaripayat Arts -- ancient history, legend, Diety aspects, metaphysics, meditation and breathing, bioenergy topics and practices, healing methods based on those, massage -- and other health methods. Actual living Kalaripayat lineages have been consulted by the author, Patrick Denand, who uses great BIG full-color photos [such as page 81 and so on], good black-and-white photos and good drawings to illustrate his excellent prose [developed as a CBS war correspondent]. Kalaripayat self-defense is sampled via a FEW well-chosen methods to demonstrate the FULL variety of postures, shifts, kicks, trips, blows and grappling -- one could expect of an Ancestor of Asian Defense Arts -- therefore of modern self-defense Arts -- such as Kenpo Arts like mine. This surely includes Tibetan Lion's Roar Arts -- the Kalaripayat Long and Fold Arm methods are mirrored in such Tibetan Arts. The Northern Long Arm and Southern Fold Arm Arts of Kalaripayat seem mirrored as well in Northern and Southern "Kung-Fu". The whole chapter 7 "The Influence of India on Asia and of Kalaripayat on the Martial Arts" presents a great summary of such deep ancient mirror-influences -- reflected and recreated into present Living Arts +++

This book is great for an understanding of the concepts and history of the Indian martial art of kalaripayat.For more on the application and training methods of Kalarippayat I recommend the book by D. H. Luijendijk.

GREAT BOOK AS SOURCE OF INFORMATION. THE PRICE IS OUTSTANDING . HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ONE AND ALL MARTIAL ARTS PRACTITIONERS. YOU WONT REGRET

Kalaripayatu is as consider the mothers of many systems is an ancient art that has survived for thousands of years to judge the book for its cover is an understatement of a great source of knowledge....

not what i expected

The history and explanations are quite good. The photos showing postures don't show much expertise

Many of the martial arts books I have read seem indistinguishable from each other. An easy read, this 148 page book on Kalaripayat is refreshing and gives real insight into a little-known Indian martial art.

really good introduction book.

Good book

We can get the information contained in this book from the internet these days.Not a detailed book about techniquesBest book is by chiraikkal sreedharan nair.

Dieses Buch ist das beste (mir bekannte) Werk zu diesem Thema. Deswegen hat es vier Sterne verdient. Es hat Tiefgang, besitzt eine breite Informationsfülle und ist lesbar geschrieben. Einen Stern muss ich dem Buch vorbehalten, da ich gewisse Details dennoch vermisse. Aber kann es überhaupt ein vollständiges Werk zu diesem Thema geben?

Very Interesting read on the Ancient Art or Kalaripayat, A Nice piece for any Martial arts history Collection

Little info, very poor about this martial art. It is only about the history of Kalaripayat. I am quite deceptionated.