|
Master Zacria in salutation posture
|
Gymnastics
The lesson starts with gymnastics.
There are different kind of gymnastics, with different phases, each one with a
particular aim. The warm-up, the stretching, the muscular reinforcement, the
breathing exercises, the meditation exercises, the exercises for the spinal
column, the “ regenerating” exercises (which allow, if we are tired, to be back
in top form). During those exercises, we focus on breathing, circulation. The
breathing exercises have for goal the liberation of the circulation of the
body. When the students progress, they are able to practice exercises closer
related to martial gymnastics. In that aim, the student must first practice
varied exercises which prepare the body in stages. Twisting and rotation
movements make all the muscles of the body work (including some of them which
are not usually used), stretch and relax the spinal column, relax the body and
strengthen the articulations. Last, they have regenerating and invigorating
properties. It is obvious that we don’t practice all the exercises at each
session. According to the student’s needs and
many other factors, this stage can be very different from one lesson to
another. It can be done within a few minutes or take much more time depending
on the point of the lesson.
In a general way, the movements and
postures of Varma Kalai stretch, strengthen the limbs and “massage” the
internal organs. In that way, repeating series of movements and martial
techniques, the students are doing an internal and external gymnastic… without
knowing it.
The
hand-to-hand combat
Every part of the body is used (open
or closed hands, elbows, knees, feet, shoulders, etc.) may it be for hitting,
throws, grapplings and locks. There’s a
huge variety of movement in the space, both with an opponent and by oneself (in
order to move advantageously against an enemy, or when we are surrounded by
several enemies) based on animal postures (tiger, elephant, snake, eagle, monkey,
etc.). One of the particularities is that we also learn ground techniques for
moving.
There are several kinds of exercises
:
The ondi padom : exercises
alone, or practiced with others
The adi-varisaï : series
practiced alone
The kuttu-varisaï : series
practiced in pair, then with more people (from the simplest to the most
complex, codified at the beginning, and progressing to more and more free
movements, the counter-attacks linked together endlessly, in perpetual
movement)
The padom (lessons) : series
of lessons practiced alone, bare hand or with arms
The tode : whirling lessons
in pair
The
Kuttu Varisaï
There’s a whole range of short
series of movements which can be declined in several ways. One is practiced
with an opponent, staying in place while moving your body and consists of
linking movements. These exercises go beyond a “defence followed by a
counter-attack”. It’s about series of attacks and counter-attacks from both the
opponents, always moving, which makes neither “defender” nor “attacker” but two
opponents countering the series of the other in a simultaneous flow of
movements. They put in practice the techniques that they learned alone. With
these movements, we focus on vivacity, the use of coordination of several limbs
at the same time, linking movements, simultaneous “defence / counter-attack”,
the permanent contact of limbs, etc. Other families of techniques in pair
complete this work in order to develop other qualities, like this range of
series (see under the “tode”) which we can qualify “whirling” where both the
opponents are turning around one another, attacking and defending at the same
time. The defences are done without
“blocking”, never “bone against bone”, everything done in absorption… except in
the case of certain defences aimed at “hitting” the attacking limb.
(photos
: Karaté Bushido)
The
Adi Varisai
The students practice exercises
called Adi Varisaï, which are a series of movements that one practices alone.
Each lesson contains one or several objectives : linking movements together,
the piston and the rebound effect, the dissociation of limbs, the moving in
space, fluidity, the muscular reinforcement, etc. The body gets used to moving,
becomes more flexible, looser, more obedient… For me, this work is used in
order to “sharpen” the body.
The Tode Varisai
The students practice these codified
exercises in pairs. Both the opponents are linking movements together very
quickly, always moving in a way which aim to move round the other, may it be
moving forward, pivoting, whirling, going by the side or by the back, without
ever interrupting the attacks and counter-attacks.
(photos
Karaté Bushido)
The Varma Kalai is a martial art
coming from Southeast India, more
exactly from Tamil Nadu. Literally, “Varma Kalai” means “the art of
vital points”. This art is composed of hand-to-hand fighting, fighting with
weapons, and also martial gymnastics. The study of this art goes beyond
learning fighting techniques. Its aim is to produce healthy and stable
individuals.