Ok. You have decided to join a kalari. Read on . This article will help you in your training.

Always use a langot or lion cloth.

It is up to you to decide on the frequency of training. To reach the top daily training is a must. This doesn't mean that you have to go full steam every day. Mix heavy days with light days. If daily training in the kalari  is not possible (usually kalaris are open 7 days a week) do your own training in the off days. Here the important of your training partner will become apparent.

Set your priorities right from the beginning. If you want to excel in  kalari, then you have spare a major chunk of your time for kalari training. You only have 24 hours per day and  you must  make use of the time. Follow other pursuits in addition to the kalari training.

Never miss even a single day if you can afford it. Always begin the day with at least 12 repetitions of surya namaskar - the sun salutation. If done properly, this one exercise can make you flexible, strong and agile. In the case of northern style kalari training , the meyppyattu will give you the necessary flexibility and agility. In olden days it  is not unusual for people to practice surya namaskar for at least 108 repetitions. There are stories about people who were used to do this up to 1200 times!

The solo forms are the corner stone of your kalari training. Make it a habit to go to the kalari a bit earlier than others so that you can practice the solo forms in a quite atmosphere. Alternatively you may set aside one or two hours for the self study of the solo forms and practice them near a lake or sea shore. Again many many variations can be used here to develop your strength and speed.  Have a healthy competition with  your Jodi or some other trainees in the kalari.

Next comes the practice fighting. Practice fighting teaches you the applications of kalari movements that you have learned from the solo forms in real fights. It I best done inside the kalari. Train as vigorously as in a real fight, perhaps with even more power and speed. Of course before this you should have trained slowly with your Jodi and mastered the basic movements. Consolidate what you have already mastered while trying to learn new practice fighting techniques. This practice fighting must be continuous. Change form one set to another or from one partner to another as quickly as possible. This will help you to gain endurance without sparing valuable time meant for actual training to endurance building exercises like running and rope skipping.

Train with as many people as possible. Pay particular attention to train with people who are just below or above you in the kalari. You can consolidate your techniques with the juniors while your strength and endurance can be enhanced  with a senior student.

If the Asan or the senior instructor is willing to train with you, then grab the opportunity. You will gain lot of knowledge even from one training session. At times you will be scared of training with certain people who can easily defeat you . Always force yourself to train with such persons. Soon you will realize that such persons are not so formidable.

It is a common practice among the kalaris in kerala that the students of one kalari do not train with that of another kalari. In kalariworld it is different. We ask our students to visit as many kalaris and other martial art institutions  as possible and make a comparative study of the different styles and techniques. Of course all such interactions should be carried out in  an atmosphere of healthy competitiveness,  not to demoralize another person or institutions

When you become a senior student, ensure that you are ready to help your juniors at any time during the training. Remember, you were just like them in the near past. If you are a junior make sure to utilize the knowledge of your seniors by asking their help to improve your techniques.

When you become a senior student and if you confine your training and interaction with students of your own level, it is possible that your training will become stereotyped. If you practice with newcomers, there will be always the element of surprise in their movements and that will keep you sharp.

Do not use your favorite movements to pound the juniors again and again. Use your techniques in such a way that you will gain maximum from such interactions and at the same time ensuring that the  juniors do not  lose their enthusiasm.

When training grappling techniques, use as much force and strength you want and let the other person make the effort to overcome your strength. This will help both of you.  Whenever possible, train with multiple opponents.  Street fights are very different from the sparring sessions inside a kalari and in most street situations there will be more than one person attacking you.

Do not forget the strength aspect of the martial training. Even with your favorite grapple or throw or striking technique you need strength to get the necessary result. The fancy stuff that you see in the movies will not help you in the street. Keep aside two or three days for specialized strength training. By this I do not mean body building exercises, but the traditional strength training aimed at developing the multi joint, multi planar strength that is necessary for a martial artist

Even though there is your Jodi, you must practice with everyone in the kalari. In kalariworld it is mandatory for everyone - including the instructor to train with everyone else. To train only with the persons you like is a bad idea and it should be avoided. Training with different persons means that you have a chance to build up the different aspects of kalari training - strength, speed, endurance, skill and technique.

If you can spare one day in a week - preferably Sunday, you should practice the surya namaskar. It should be done for endurance. Do as many as you can in good form. Aim for at least 108 repetitions with the chanting of the mantras and the pranayama. Proper breathing is a must and without proper pranayama, surya namaskar is just another exercise. It is the pranayama that make surya namaskar different. This is very difficult for the average kalari practitioner. But if done as explained above this particular exercise will give everything that you need- suppleness, endurance stamina, - in short everything other than the skill and techniques of kalarippayattu.

To conclude, live , eat, sleep and train in such a way that  you are ahead of your competition inside and out side the kalari.

Good luck