Latest news with #Kalari
Time of India
26-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Foundation aims to revive Tulu Nadu Kalari
Mangaluru: The Tulu World Foundation , an organisation dedicated to promoting the Tulu language and culture, aims to resurrect Tulu Nadu Kalari , a traditional martial art form that shares historical connections with Kerala's kalari payattu . The Foundation has initiated discussions to discover and document information about Tulu Nadu Kalari, particularly during a period when awareness about this martial art form and its links to Karnataka's coastal regions remains limited among the general population. Rajesh Alva, founder of the Tulu World Foundation, said that Kalari Payattu, renowned as one of the world's oldest martial arts, shares a strong bond with Tulu Nadu. In Kerala, it is also referred to as 'Tulu Nadu Kalari.' "Historical evidence shows that many kings and military leaders once travelled to Tulu Nadu to learn Kalari Payattu," Alva said. Koti and Chennaya, the twin warriors of Tulu Nadu, worked hard to preserve this art through their training centres, he said. "There are records of their teacher, Nanayya, receiving villages as grants from the kings of Kerala. Similarly, the bravery of the twin heroes Mudda Kalaler and Kanada Katader has its roots in kalari. In kalari payattu, 64 out of 108 vital points are significant. It not only provides physical and mental health but also includes combat strategies, blindfold techniques, and guerrilla tactics. The presiding deities of this art are referred to as Tuluveshwari, Khadgeshwari, Kalari Jumadi, Mankali, Deyi, and others," he said. Stating that this knowledge has diminished in Tulu Nadu, he said that only folk traditions remain, with no prominence given to martial arts. "It is our duty to revive this sacred knowledge. It will not only provide physical and mental strength to the younger generation but also offer employment opportunities. With the aim of reviving this, we organised a seminar and discussion forum on the topic of Kalari and Tulu Nadu. It will be held on May 24 at the Degree College of Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple in Kateel," he said, adding that experts and scholars from Kerala and coastal districts, who conducted studies on the martial arts, will take part in the seminar.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
India's sword-wielding grandmother still going strong at 82
An 82-year-old woman who teaches the ancient Indian martial art of Kalaripayattu says she has no plans to retire. "I'll probably practise Kalari until the day I die," says Meenakshi Raghavan, widely thought to be the oldest woman in the world to practise the art form. Kalaripayattu - kalari means battleground and payattu means fight - is believed to have originated at least 3,000 years back in the southern state of Kerala and is regarded as India's oldest martial art. It is not solely practised for combat or fighting; it also serves to instil discipline, build strength and develop self-defence skills. Ms Raghavan is fondly known as Meenakshi Amma - Amma means mother in the Malayalam language - in Kerala's Vadakara, where she lives. The town is also home to other renowned exponents of the art like Unniyarcha, Aromal Chekavar and Thacholi Othenan. Meenakshi Amma occasionally performs in other cities but mainly runs her own Kalari school, founded by her husband in 1950. Her days are busy, with classes from five in the morning to noon. "I teach about 50 students daily. My four children were also trained [in the art form] by me and my husband. They started learning from the age of six," she says. Kalaripayattu has four stages and it requires patience to learn the art form. Training begins with meypattu - an oil massage followed by exercises to condition the body. After about two years, students progress to kolthari (stick fighting), then to angathari (weapon combat), and finally to verumkai - the highest level, involving unarmed combat. It typically takes up to five years to master Kalaripayattu. Kung fu is believed to have adapted principles like breathing techniques and marmashastra (stimulating vital points to optimise energy flow) from Kalaripayattu, according to Vinod Kadangal, another Kalari teacher. Legend has it that around the 6th Century, Indian Buddhist monk Bodhidharma introduced these techniques to the Shaolin monks, influencing the more famous Chinese martial art. Meenakshi Amma still recalls the first time she stepped into a Kalari - the red-earth arena where the art is practised - 75 years ago. "I was seven and quite good at dancing. So my guru - VP Raghavan - approached my father and suggested that I learn Kalaripayattu. Just like dance, the art form requires you to be flexible," she says. Hailing from Kerala's Thiyya community, Meenakshi Amma's guru was 15 when he and his brothers opened their own Kalaripayattu school after being denied admission elsewhere because of their low social caste. "There was no bias when it came to girls enrolling to study Kalari - in fact, physical education was compulsory in all Kerala schools at that time. But we were expected to stop after attaining puberty," she says. Unlike others, Meenakshi Amma's father encouraged her training into her late teens. At 17, she fell in love with Raghavan, and they soon married. Together, they went on to train hundreds of students, often for free. "At the time, a lot of children came from poor families. The only money he [Raghavan] accepted was in the form of dakshina or a tribute paid to the teacher," she says. Donations sustained the school, while Raghavan later took a teaching job for extra income. After his death in 2007, Meenakshi Amma formally took charge. While she has no plans to retire at the moment, she hopes to hand over the school one day to her eldest son Sanjeev. The 62-year-old, who is also an instructor at the school, says he is lucky to have learnt from the best - his mother. But being her son earns no favours; he says she's still his toughest opponent. Meenakshi Amma is a local celebrity. During our interview, three politicians drop by to invite her to an awards ceremony. "Amma, you must grace us with your presence," one of them says with folded hands. "Thank you for considering me, I'll attend," she replies. Her students speak of "fierce admiration" for her. Many have opened their own Kalari schools across the state, a source of great pride for Meenakshi Amma. "She's an inspiration to women everywhere - a rare person who shows love and affection to her students, yet remains a strict disciplinarian when it comes to Kalari," says KF Thomas, a former student. Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook. Meet the 73-year-old martial arts star The only living master of a dying martial art India's grandmother-granddaughter karate champs
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
India's sword-wielding grandmother still going strong at 82
An 82-year-old woman who teaches the ancient Indian martial art of Kalaripayattu says she has no plans to retire. "I'll probably practise Kalari until the day I die," says Meenakshi Raghavan, widely thought to be the oldest woman in the world to practise the art form. Kalaripayattu - kalari means battleground and payattu means fight - is believed to have originated at least 3,000 years back in the southern state of Kerala and is regarded as India's oldest martial art. It is not solely practised for combat or fighting; it also serves to instil discipline, build strength and develop self-defence skills. Ms Raghavan is fondly known as Meenakshi Amma - Amma means mother in the Malayalam language - in Kerala's Vadakara, where she lives. The town is also home to other renowned exponents of the art like Unniyarcha, Aromal Chekavar and Thacholi Othenan. Meenakshi Amma occasionally performs in other cities but mainly runs her own Kalari school, founded by her husband in 1950. Her days are busy, with classes from five in the morning to noon. "I teach about 50 students daily. My four children were also trained [in the art form] by me and my husband. They started learning from the age of six," she says. Kalaripayattu has four stages and it requires patience to learn the art form. Training begins with meypattu - an oil massage followed by exercises to condition the body. After about two years, students progress to kolthari (stick fighting), then to angathari (weapon combat), and finally to verumkai - the highest level, involving unarmed combat. It typically takes up to five years to master Kalaripayattu. Kung fu is believed to have adapted principles like breathing techniques and marmashastra (stimulating vital points to optimise energy flow) from Kalaripayattu, according to Vinod Kadangal, another Kalari teacher. Legend has it that around the 6th Century, Indian Buddhist monk Bodhidharma introduced these techniques to the Shaolin monks, influencing the more famous Chinese martial art. Meenakshi Amma still recalls the first time she stepped into a Kalari - the red-earth arena where the art is practised - 75 years ago. "I was seven and quite good at dancing. So my guru - VP Raghavan - approached my father and suggested that I learn Kalaripayattu. Just like dance, the art form requires you to be flexible," she says. Hailing from Kerala's Thiyya community, Meenakshi Amma's guru was 15 when he and his brothers opened their own Kalaripayattu school after being denied admission elsewhere because of their low social caste. "There was no bias when it came to girls enrolling to study Kalari - in fact, physical education was compulsory in all Kerala schools at that time. But we were expected to stop after attaining puberty," she says. Unlike others, Meenakshi Amma's father encouraged her training into her late teens. At 17, she fell in love with Raghavan, and they soon married. Together, they went on to train hundreds of students, often for free. "At the time, a lot of children came from poor families. The only money he [Raghavan] accepted was in the form of dakshina or a tribute paid to the teacher," she says. Donations sustained the school, while Raghavan later took a teaching job for extra income. After his death in 2007, Meenakshi Amma formally took charge. While she has no plans to retire at the moment, she hopes to hand over the school one day to her eldest son Sanjeev. The 62-year-old, who is also an instructor at the school, says he is lucky to have learnt from the best - his mother. But being her son earns no favours; he says she's still his toughest opponent. Meenakshi Amma is a local celebrity. During our interview, three politicians drop by to invite her to an awards ceremony. "Amma, you must grace us with your presence," one of them says with folded hands. "Thank you for considering me, I'll attend," she replies. Her students speak of "fierce admiration" for her. Many have opened their own Kalari schools across the state, a source of great pride for Meenakshi Amma. "She's an inspiration to women everywhere - a rare person who shows love and affection to her students, yet remains a strict disciplinarian when it comes to Kalari," says KF Thomas, a former student. Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook. Meet the 73-year-old martial arts star The only living master of a dying martial art India's grandmother-granddaughter karate champs
BBC News
19-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Kerala: India's sword-wielding grandmother still going strong at 82
An 82-year-old woman who teaches the ancient Indian martial art of Kalaripayattu says she has no plans to retire."I'll probably practise Kalari until the day I die," says Meenakshi Raghavan, widely thought to be the oldest woman in the world to practise the art - kalari means battleground and payattu means fight - is believed to have originated at least 3,000 years back in the southern state of Kerala and is regarded as India's oldest martial is not solely practised for combat or fighting; it also serves to instil discipline, build strength and develop self-defence Raghavan is fondly known as Meenakshi Amma - Amma means mother in the Malayalam language - in Kerala's Vadakara, where she lives. The town is also home to other renowned exponents of the art like Unniyarcha, Aromal Chekavar and Thacholi Amma occasionally performs in other cities but mainly runs her own Kalari school, founded by her husband in 1950. Her days are busy, with classes from five in the morning to noon."I teach about 50 students daily. My four children were also trained [in the art form] by me and my husband. They started learning from the age of six," she says. Kalaripayattu has four stages and it requires patience to learn the art begins with meypattu - an oil massage followed by exercises to condition the about two years, students progress to kolthari (stick fighting), then to angathari (weapon combat), and finally to verumkai - the highest level, involving unarmed combat. It typically takes up to five years to master fu is believed to have adapted principles like breathing techniques and marmashastra (stimulating vital points to optimise energy flow) from Kalaripayattu, according to Vinod Kadangal, another Kalari has it that around the 6th Century, Indian Buddhist monk Bodhidharma introduced these techniques to the Shaolin monks, influencing the more famous Chinese martial Amma still recalls the first time she stepped into a Kalari - the red-earth arena where the art is practised - 75 years ago."I was seven and quite good at dancing. So my guru - VP Raghavan - approached my father and suggested that I learn Kalaripayattu. Just like dance, the art form requires you to be flexible," she from Kerala's Thiyya community, Meenakshi Amma's guru was 15 when he and his brothers opened their own Kalaripayattu school after being denied admission elsewhere because of their low social caste. "There was no bias when it came to girls enrolling to study Kalari - in fact, physical education was compulsory in all Kerala schools at that time. But we were expected to stop after attaining puberty," she others, Meenakshi Amma's father encouraged her training into her late teens. At 17, she fell in love with Raghavan, and they soon married. Together, they went on to train hundreds of students, often for free."At the time, a lot of children came from poor families. The only money he [Raghavan] accepted was in the form of dakshina or a tribute paid to the teacher," she sustained the school, while Raghavan later took a teaching job for extra income. After his death in 2007, Meenakshi Amma formally took she has no plans to retire at the moment, she hopes to hand over the school one day to her eldest son 62-year-old, who is also an instructor at the school, says he is lucky to have learnt from the best - his mother. But being her son earns no favours; he says she's still his toughest Amma is a local celebrity. During our interview, three politicians drop by to invite her to an awards ceremony. "Amma, you must grace us with your presence," one of them says with folded hands."Thank you for considering me, I'll attend," she students speak of "fierce admiration" for her. Many have opened their own Kalari schools across the state, a source of great pride for Meenakshi Amma."She's an inspiration to women everywhere - a rare person who shows love and affection to her students, yet remains a strict disciplinarian when it comes to Kalari," says KF Thomas, a former BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook.
Mid East Info
10-02-2025
- Health
- Mid East Info
OmicsFootPrint: Mayo Clinic's AI tool offers a new way to visualize disease
Mayo Clinic researchers have pioneered an artificial intelligence (AI) tool, called OmicsFootPrint, that helps convert vast amounts of complex biological data into two-dimensional circular images. The details of the tool are published in a study in Nucleic Acids Research. Omics is the study of genes, proteins and other molecular data to help uncover how the body functions and how diseases develop. By mapping this data, the OmicsFootPrint may provide clinicians and researchers with a new way to visualize patterns in diseases, such as cancer and neurological disorders, that can help guide personalized therapies. It may also provide an intuitive way to explore disease mechanisms and interactions. 'Data becomes most powerful when you can see the story it's telling,' says lead author Krishna Rani Kalari, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical informatics at Mayo Clinic's Center for Individualized Medicine. 'The OmicsFootPrint could open doors to discoveries we haven't been able to achieve before.' Genes act as the body's instruction manual, while proteins carry out those instructions to keep cells functioning. Sometimes, changes in these instructions — called mutations — can disrupt this process and lead to disease. The OmicsFootPrint helps make sense of these complexities by turning data — such as gene activity, mutations and protein levels — into colorful, circular maps that offer a clearer picture of what's happening in the body. In their study, the researchers used the OmicsFootPrint to analyze drug response and cancer multi-omics data. The tool distinguished between two types of breast cancer — lobular and ductal carcinomas — with an average accuracy of 87%. When applied to lung cancer, it demonstrated over 95% accuracy in identifying two types: adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The study showed that combining several types of molecular data produces more accurate results than using just one type of data. The OmicsFootPrint also shows potential in providing meaningful results even with limited datasets. It uses advanced AI methods that learn from existing data and apply that knowledge to new scenarios — a process known as transfer learning. In one example, it helped researchers achieve over 95% accuracy in identifying lung cancer subtypes using less than 20% of the typical data volume. 'This approach could be beneficial for research even with small sample size or clinical studies,' Dr. Kalari says. To enhance its accuracy and insights, the OmicsFootPrint framework also uses an advanced method called SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations). SHAP highlights the most important markers, genes or proteins that influence the results to help researchers understand the factors driving disease patterns. Beyond research, the OmicsFootPrint is designed for clinical use. It compresses large biological datasets into compact images that require just 2% of the original storage space. This could make the images easy to integrate into electronic medical records to guide patient care in the future. The research team plans to expand the OmicsFootPrint to study other diseases, including neurological diseases and other complex disorders. They are also working on updates to make the tool even more accurate and flexible, including the ability to find new disease markers and drug targets.
