Meenakshi Raghavan
Meenakshi Raghavan is probably the oldest woman in the world, practicing and teaching Kalaripayattu
The 82-year-old woman who teaches ancient Indian martial arts in Kalaripayattu says she has no plans to retire.
“I’ll probably practice Karari until the day I die,” says Meenakshi Raghavan, widely considered to be the oldest woman in the world practicing art form.
Kalaripayattu – Kalari means battlefield and Payattu means battle – is thought to have started at least 3,000 years ago in the southern state of Kerala and is considered India’s oldest martial arts.
It is not practiced just for combat or combat. It also helps promote discipline, build strength and develop self-defense skills.
Ms. Raghavan is loved as Meenakshi Amma – Amma means Malayalam mother of Vadakhala, Kerala, where she lives. The town also has other famous indices of art such as Winniyacha, Aromacekabal and Tacoliocenan.
Meenakshi Amma plays occasionally in other cities, but mainly runs the Kalari School, founded by her husband in 1950. Her days are busy, with classes from 5am to noon.
“I teach 50 students every day. My four children were also trained. [in the art form] By me and my husband. They started learning at the age of six,” she says.
Meenakshi Raghavan
Meenakshi Amma plays occasionally in other cities, but mainly runs the Kalari School
Kalaripayattu has four stages and learning art forms requires patience.
The workout starts with Meypattu – an oil massage followed by a body-regulating exercise.
About two years later, students proceed to Verumkai, the highest level, which includes Cortari (stick fighting), then Angatari (weapon combat), and ultimately unarmed combat. It usually takes up to five years to learn Kalaripayattu.
According to Vinod Kadangal, Kalari teacher, Kung Fu is believed to employ breathing techniques and Marmashastra (which stimulates important points to stimulate important points to optimize energy flow).
Legend has it that around the 6th century, the Indian Buddhist monk khidharma introduced these techniques to the Xiaolin monks, and influenced the more famous Chinese martial arts.
Meenakshi Amma recalls the first time he stepped into Kalari, the Red-earth Arena where art is practiced 75 years ago.
“I was seven years old and I was very good at dancing, so I suggested that I approach my guru – Raghavan – my father and learn Kalaripayattu.
The leading expert at Meenakshima, from the Tiya community in Kerala, was 15 years old when he and his brother opened his own Kalalipayatu school after he and his brother were denied entry elsewhere due to low social caste.
Meenakshi Raghavan
Her days are busy, with classes ranging from five in the morning until noon
“There was no bias when it comes to girls who register to study Kalali. In fact, physical education was mandatory in all Kerala schools at the time, but it was expected to halt after achieving puberty,” she says.
Unlike the others, Minaksiamma’s father encouraged training in his late teens. At the age of 17, she fell in love with Raghavan and quickly got married. Together, they continued to train hundreds of students, often for free.
“At that time, many children came from poor families. Only money [Raghavan] What was accepted was in the form of compliments paid to Dakshina or the teacher,” she says.
The donation maintained the school and Raghavan later worked in education work for extra income. After his death in 2007, Meenakshi Amma was officially in charge.
She has no plans to retire at this time, but one day she hopes to hand over the school to her eldest son, Sanjeev.
The 62-year-old, who is also a school instructor, says he is lucky to learn from the best – his mother. But being her son doesn’t benefit. He says she is still his toughest opponent.
Meenakshi Amma is a local celebrity. During our interview, three politicians stopped by to invite her to the awards ceremony.
“Amma, you must adorn us with your presence,” one of them said with your hand.
“Thank you for thinking about me, I’ll be present,” she replies.
Her students talk about “severe admiration” for her. Many have opened their own Kalari schools throughout the state, a source of great pride for Meenakshi Amma.
“She is inspirational to women everywhere. She is a rare person who shows love and affection to her students, but she continues to be strictly disciplinary when it comes to Karari,” says former student KF Thomas.
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