Kalaripayattu

This photograph was taken in the coast of Kannur, Kerala. This form of traditional Indian martial rt is called Kalaripayattu.
Kalaripayattu (or Kalarippayattu) is an ancient Indian martial art from Kerala, considered the “mother of all martial arts,” combining physical conditioning, animal-inspired movements, and weapon training (wooden and metal) with bare-handed combat, focusing on flexibility, breath control, and Marma points (vital spots) for both combat and healing. It involves four stages of training: body exercises, wooden weapons, metal weapons, and bare-handed fighting, rooted in mythology and discipline, with its centers (kalari) often built like temples.