The Cradle of India

The historic origins of Goju Kai Karate stretch back into time to as old as civilization itself. Some two-thousand years before the Christian era, various fighting styles were developed in central Asia, Egypt, and in Turkey. Founding principles of Asian Martial

Arts are believed to have spread from Turkey to the cradle of India.
India has been long-since hailed as the birthplace of Buddhism and bare-handed Martial Arts. From 1000 BC until approximately 300 AD, an ancient Indian Martial Art called, 'Sanskrit', was commonly practiced by the, 'Kshatriya', a primordial Hindu Warrior Class-somewhat similar to the Samurai of Japan or the Knights of Medieval Europe-who were responsible for upholding justice and social order within India, and who were additionally sworn to protect Hindu Royalists against outside foreign invasion.
Indian Martial Art forms were additionally developed into a sophisticated Hindu art called, the 'Kalaripayat-Kerala'. Believed to have originated during the early 4th Century AD, the Kalaripayat is unofficially the World's oldest form of recognized Martial Art. The Kerala trained in the art of Yoga to develop flexibility and sharpen reflexes for unarmed combat and complex body movements. The Kalaripayat style was characterized by very high kicking, foot sweeps, and low stances.
 
 

Kerala weapons used in combat, included: mace, spears, daggers, sword and shield. The Kalaripayat also encompassed the use of a unique and lethal weapon called, the 'Urumi', or flexible sword, which could be concealed inconspicuously around a Kerala Master's waist, beneath a belt.

Another staple of the Kalaripayat training system, as represented in modern Karate techniques today, involved the Kalari's defined use of a technique called 'Marma', which identified the key vital nodal points (marmas) of the human body (107 of them in all). The application of this art was by pressing and nudging particular nodal points to correct and control various muscular and neurological problems. Additional Marma massaging techniques often involved a subject standing full length on top of the patient and applying pressure with body weight and feet.

The Kalaripayat system of martial arts and message still exists today.
 
 
 
 
 
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