Kalaripayattu, the ancient martial art form of Kerala, has been taught at The Peepal Grove School since the past decade. Students – girls and boys – learn from masters who belong to the ancient Kalari lineage of “Thacholi Othenan” fame in Northern Kerala.
A typical class starts with warm-up exercises which include stretches and bends. This progresses to movements and poses that imitate animals such as the elephant, tiger, horse, and wild boar leading to a series of defending and attacking stances that are aimed at improving strength and flexibility.
While a stronger physical body is a natural outcome, the other manifestations of a regular Kalari practice are a sharper mind, higher concentration, and body awareness that aid holistic development of a child’s personality.
The students put up an annual Kalari show that is an energetic display of multiple levels of Kalari — Meipayattu, stick rotation, sword and shield fight, sword and bare hand fight, long stick fight, cock fight, bare hand combat, high kick, and body control exercises.
About The Peepal Grove School
The Peepal Grove School is a co-educational boarding school (affiliated to the CISCE Board) located in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh (India). The school was founded by Sri M (Mumtaz Ali), an educationist, a social reformer, an author, and a spiritual leader. Sri M’s objective in setting up the school was to create a space for children which would enable them to explore their true potential as human beings.
With a Teacher to Student ratio of 1:5, the school admits students from Grades 4 -12 (8.5 years – 18 years). The school was inaugurated by the then President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in December, 2006. Students here are drawn from all regions of the country and also from abroad.
The emphasis is on collaborative learning which is student centric (rather than direct teaching). Apart from mainstream subjects, Sanskrit is also taught at the school. The school is spread over a vast campus of over 30 acres, nestled in a valley, surrounded by hills.
For more information about The Peepal Grove School, click here.
