Leuven - Vechtsportzaal - Dojo - Sportzaal - Kwoon

In Varma Kalai, the respect of the body is essential. All training is done in order to prevent the body from suffering any shock or traumatism which could damage it. The teaching is an accumulation of several generations of masters. It has evolved in order to train oneself without destroying oneself. So, the techniques executed are always practiced in a fluid and fexible way. This art is taught in France by Master Zacria who began to practice Varma Kalai at 8 years old in Tamil Nadu with Master Krichenan then Master Tirougnana Sambadar. It’s been about 15 years since he has been teaching in France. He’s very concerned about his student’s health and I can tell you that the extent of his knowledge about the human body is amazing.

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.

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.

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.