Kuttu Varisai

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Kuttu Varisai (Empty Hand Combat)  is an Indian martial art practiced in Tamil Nadu, South India and in Northeastern Sri Lanka. It is a form of hand to hand combat similar to Kung Fu and Karate. This Tamil martial art was first documented in the Tamil Sangam literature (c. 2nd-1st centuries BC).

Both Kuttu Varisai and Varma Kalai combined make up a deadly fighting art. In Kuttu Varisai, gymnastic, stretching (yoga), and breathing exercises are conducted before training.

In combat, almost every part of the body is used such as the fists, elbow, feet, knees, etc. Various different animal styles such as the tiger, elephant, snake, eagle and monkey are used. All these styles include posture, grappling, throws, hits, and locks.

The meaning of Kuttu Varisai is divided into two words. ‘Kuttu’ means punch or hit and ‘Varisai’ means sequence or order. The words it self says using the punches in sequential order. This is a form of art, which is based on the lessons, which gives the different level of using the hands and legs to defend.

In Kuttu Varisai, gymnastic, stretching, and breathing exercises are conducted before training. Kuttu Varisai teaches Nelaygal (standing positions or poses) of several hours. Nelaygal is a form of Yoga for strength and balance. In combat, almost every part of the body is used such as the fists, elbow, feet, and knees.

Kutthu Varasai also aims in capturing the energy of animals and making them selves behave and act as wild as an animal in the life threatening situation.m Various different animal styles such as the tiger, elephant, snake, eagle and monkey are used. All these styles include posture, grappling, throws, hits, and locks.

Therems 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 mdefense followed by a counter-attack. It’s about series of attacks and counter-attacks from both the opponents, always moving, which makes neither mdefenderm nor mattackerm but two opponents countering the series of the other in a simultaneous flow of movements.

There are a huge variety of weapons used in this fighting system which can easily be seen in many Cholabronze statues of various deities.

Weapons include the trident, sticks (kali or kaji) (short, long, or double sticks), swords (val) and shield, double swords, daggers (kuttuval) (simple or double), knuckle duster (kuttu katai), and whips with several flexible and metallic blades (surul pattai).

Kuttu Varisai is an Indian hand-to-hand martial art similar Kung Fu. It uses gymnastics, stretching and various breathing exercises before practicng the art. In combat, body parts including the hands, elbows, feet and knees are used as “weapons” in executing strikes and locks. One notable aspect of Kuttu Varisai that makes it an interesting art is that it utilizes different forms that mimic animal movements such as the tiger, elephant, snake, eagle, and monkey.