‘The lone warrior’: A Guinness World Record holder’s love for Kalaripayattu

Online Desk

Harikrishnan S breathes Kalaripayattu.

A medical nurse by occupation, his ardour for the martial artwork kind has seen him make popularising it his life’s mission.

He remembers how as an 11-year-old he received drawn in the direction of Kalaripayattu after his mom informed him his grandfather, a military veteran, was a practitioner.

“My mother used to tell me how my grandfather used to practice Kalaripayattu. That led me to seek the tutelage of Sylvas Gurukkal to learn Thekkan Kalari. This was 15 years ago,” stated the 26-year-old Alappuzha native.

Today, Harikrishnan is an skilled in a number of types of Kalaripayattu together with Thekkan, Vadakkan, Madhyakeralam and Thulunadan Lahalamura. A “Kalari Gurukkal” for the reason that age of 18, he has mentored over 1,600 college students from all ages and tribes — Achu to Rinu — a teenager with an amputated leg and Vijayaraghavan Nair, a sexagenarian.

He has received gold thrice on the Kalaripayattu nationwide championship. He is a gold medalist in nationwide sword combating and has additionally bagged gold in ‘Keralolsavam.’ Moreover, he’s two-time nationwide actual struggle silver medalist, ‘Urumi’ (whip-like sword) skilled and world-record holder. He has entered the Arabian Book of World Records, Indian Book of Records, Limca Book of World Records and Guinness Book of Records.

The champion martial artist’s profile is not restricted to the report books and private achievements. The teenager has confirmed his proficiency as a resourceful instructor as properly. Following his hat-trick gold in Kalaripayattu nationwide championships, that stage is now dominated by college students of his academy. 

A video of his 10-year-old disciple Neelakandan went viral not too long ago with the boy getting international applause. Celebrities together with Anand Mahindra, Vidyut Jamwal and Baba Ramdev shared the clip on their social media handles.

Harikrishnan is at all times on the transfer, not prepared to limit himself to the massive variety of college students throughout states (that embrace skilled boxers and wannabe MMA fighters) he seems to additional widen his circle in order that Kalaripayattu can attain extra individuals. 

“I feel Kalaripayattu has not received enough recognition from the government. We should learn from China how they promote Kung Fu. See where it stands now. And what about Kalaripayattu? Even all Keralites are not aware of it. Popularising it would help develop our culture and legacy,” he stated.

Hari named his Kalaripayattu academy “Ekaveera” or lone warrior. The identify resonates along with his journey up to now — a one-man mission to introduce and popularise an historical artwork that’s largely missed. 

“It is good if a person learns Kalari. But if a person encourages more people to learn it and pass it on to more, it would be great. Then, he is serving the art right,” he defined. 

Social media publicity and report books

When he realised fame is one of the best ways to seize the general public creativeness, Hari drew out a two-phase plan. For individuals to consider in him, he realised he must show his mettle. With full belief in himself, he determined to point out he meant enterprise on the international stage.

It was in 2019 that Harikrishnan entered the Guinness Book of Records by chopping off 61 pineapples positioned on the heads of individuals in 30 seconds utilizing a sword. He made it look really easy that the present report of twenty-two fruits by an American turned a distant runner-up. Soon, his try was accepted and included within the Arabian Book of Records and Limca Book of Records as properly. Today, he’s “Guinness Hari Gurukkal” and is completely happy that issues are going as he deliberate.

“To enter the Guinness book is the best way to prove our skill and merit before the whole world. To find a place in it is equal to the world to accepting one to be the best. This is why I went for records. Whatever I’ve learned, I owe it to Kalaripayattu. The world accepting me for who I am mean recognising Kalaripayattu for its merit. Thus I am propagating this noble art form to more people,” he stated.

Soaring over pandemic bother

The second part of the plan was to lure children to Kalaripayattu through social media. Harikrishnan and his senior college students use their social media handles to showcase their expertise in fight and athleticism. With the newest additions like reels and tales being launched, brief movies of the crew displaying off Kalari methods have gone viral and have elevated recruitment throughout academies. 

But even then, individuals like him hardly thought they are going to be educating Kalaripayattu over the web to remain afloat. 

Harikrishnan S

“The routine style and discipline of the Kalari (academy) took a hit due to the pandemic.  But luckily we figured out it was coming long ago. So we were able to brainstorm in advance on damage control measures and the possibilities to take classes online. We ran trial classes for senior students before taking online admissions. We had to make a lot of adaptations from the regular style. For example, one technique that was easily taught in regular classes now had to be broken down into three parts at least so that students can learn them easily over the internet,” he stated.

ALSO READ | Kerala lockdown a punch beneath the belt for martial artwork lecturers

However, spending extra time on-line had its positives too as Hari later found.

“Some of our content became viral and it took the art form to people who had never heard of it before and wanted them to learn Kalaripayattu. Virtual classes allowed us to take it to a lot more people who had no choice earlier to learn the martial art as there were no academies nearby. We decided to give self-defence tutorials a try on YouTube too which was a success too,” he stated – declaring the subscriber rely elevated many folds through the pandemic period.

Merits of being an “abhyasi”

Before Covid-19, his academy had 16 branches in 4 districts the place round 1,800 college students had been practising. Post lockdown, Hari was compelled to restrict courses to the three branches of Alappuzha district the place round 600 college students are studying the artwork.

Kalaripayattu is one of the best present that we may give to the approaching generations as it could actually assist us construct a society that’s mentally and bodily match. Boosting one’s immunity is turning into very important for survival. Kalaripayattu presents a scientific principle and elegance of bodily train, with clear mentioning of the place to start and when to cease.

“It is said every individual has two foes — people around the one within them. Kalaripayattu, if practised with discipline, help us face both,” Hari added.

Martial arts is not violence

The grasp strongly disagrees with the argument that studying martial artwork varieties make kids aggressive. He dismisses such statements as “ignorant” and vouch for the disciplinary report of his college students at faculties.

Young Neelakandan at Harikrishnan’s Kalari (Photo | Nandalal)

“Many people ask why sword fights and spear attacks are taught to students in these modern times. They must understand Kalaripayattu used to be trained by warriors and soldiers at a time when duels and battles were a way of life. Today, we learn these weapons not to hurt anyone. But when you begin to rigorously practice a weapon, you will feel it to be a part of your body and fear will gradually disappear. Technically, we are learning to evade attacks from all these weapons. The world is not a perfect place after all. An expert martial artist can even predict how an attacker is going to use the weapon and save themselves and the people around. Isn’t that a good thing?” he asks.

“Knowledge is important to sustain life. Fitness is paramount to enjoy it to the fullest. Kalaripayattu is a treasury of such knowledge and skills that help us to live our lives to the fullest. No matter how many degrees one hold, you don’t become a good individual if you don’t have social skills to help and respect fellow lives and fulfil your responsibilities to society. Kalaripayattu helps us attain them all,” he stated.

“Come and know Kalaripayattu more closely, then you will have a better idea. It is never the same when you look at it from the outside. There are many good teachers out there,” he concluded.Harikrishnan may be reached at 8547968707

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