Martial arts thrived in the ancient Orient. While Japan and China had their judo, kung fu, karate, jiu jit su etc, India had in its southern coastal strip of Kerala, from very early period, a warfare system known as kalarippayattu. History has that the art form was taken to the east...
southwestern coastal India, some, like Higgins Masters of the P.B. Kalari in Trissur, model their practice on Bhima, emphasizing kalarippayattu's practical empty hand techniques of attack,defense, locks, and throws. Others, like my first and most important teacher, Gurukkal* Govindankutty Nay...
The specialised martial arts of Shaolin (Shaolin Kung Fu) was developed there by another Indian buddhist monk called Bodhidharma. This is another interesting piece of history that helps trace the development of asian martial arts to its primary source : Kalaripayattu of Kerala. To know more of ...