PRESSURE POINT MARTIAL ARTS: VARMA KALAI (TAMIL NADU), MARMAM (KERALA AND SRI LANKA), KYUSHO JUTSU (JAPAN), DIM MAK (CHINA), SYSTEMA (RUSSIA) - WHICH IS THE BEST...???

The only form of Martial Arts that has caught the attention of the whole world right now...!!! is none other than the Pressure Point Fighting arts.

Some of the pressure point fighting arts that are currently available today are:

1. Varma Kalai from Tamil Nadu
2. Marma of Kalaripayattu, Kerala and Maru Kala of Angampora, Sri Lanka 
3. Kyusho Jutsu of Japan 
4. Dim Mak of China 
5. Kyusho of the Filipinos, another variation of Japanese Kyusho Jutsu

As I had said in my earlier posts, in India, there are two different traditions of pressure points. The one is based on Siddha Medical System and the other is based on Ayurvedic Medical System.

COMING BACK to which Pressure Point art is more lethal and deadly, we are going to go through a series of study on each of these pressure point arts.

Firstly, when people think about Martial Arts, the countries that come to their minds are 

1. China and 
2. Japan

Well, both these countries have got two distinct features of Pressure Points arts called Dim Mak in China and Kyusho Jutsu in Japan

SOME PEOPLE GET IT WRONG THINKING ALL PRESSURE POINT ARTS ARE THE SAME.

IN FACT I AM GOING TO OUTLINE TO YOU THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DIM MAK OF CHINA AND KYUSHO JUTSU OF JAPAN NOW.

Here are some of the glaring differences between Dim Mak and Kyusho Jutsu

DIM MAK OF CHINA	KYUSHO JUTSU OF JAPAN
Dim mak is about striking the blood vessels in the human body, which causes blood clot in the internal organs , which results in ddelayed death	Kyusho Jutsu is a martial art associated with striking the nerve junctions, causing nerve dysfunction and unconsciousness, but not death
Dim Mak does not react immediately. A person hit on the Dim Mak points can feel the pain only after some amount of time, and then feels execruiting pain	Kyusho Jutsu reacts immediately. When a Kyusho practitioner hits a target person, the target feels the pain immediately, and after some time the victim gets all right by huim/herself
A person hit on the Dim Mak point will feel nausea, cold sweat, skin discoloration and blood clots. That is to say, visible marks of being a victim can be easily visualized within some time.	A person struck on a Kyusho point will feel execruiting pain instantly and immediately when struck. But there would be no visible sysmptoms of being hit in his vital spots
A person struck on Dim Mak point, when he is lifted to revive, he cannot as his blood pressure drops down quickly	A person struck on a Kyusho point can get up himself. There are no side effects, but the art is safe and sound
When struck on a Dim Mak point, the person feels the pain for a week or two till he gets recovered	When struck on a Kyusho point, the pain that the victim receives gets back to normal within a few minutes
When a Dim Mak practitioner strikes the target in a Dim Mak point, the Dim Mak master has to release another point in order to revive the victim	Whena Kyusho point is struck, the victim or target can revive himself by sticffening the muscles and loosening the joints in a reflex
When a Dim Mak point is struck, there is actually no response from the victim for a few seconds, then he starts to vomit, cannot speak etc., depending on which point is struck	In Kyusho, there is an immediate response from the victim’s part like falling, stiffening of the body parts, jumps and falls on the ground etc.

These are some of the glaring differences between Dim Mak of China and Kyusho Jutsu of Japan.

Next, we are going to consider the difference between the Varma Kalai of Tamil Nadu and Marma of Kalari and Maru Kala of Sri Lanka.

Basically, both Northern Kalari Marma and Sri Lankan Maru Kala are the same; while, on the other hand, the Varma Kalai of Tamil Nadu is known as Thekkan Kalari, based on Siddha Medical System.

Here are some of the glaring differences between Varma Kalai and Maru Kala or Marma.

Punch into Google Search:
SIDDHA VARMA KALAI VS AYURVEDIC MARMA KALA

I would not like to repeat an already written article. So, I think it would be worth for you to take a look at that article separately.

There are a lot of differences between the Siddha Tradition of Varma Kalai and the Ayurvedic Tradition of Marma.

One Main difference is that the Siddha tradition gives importance to both  Martial Art aspect as well as healing aspects, while the Ayurvedic tradition is only treatment oriented and less emphasis is given to Martial Arts applications.

FILIPINO KYUSHO:

Coming to the Filipino Arts, the Filipino Kyusho system is an effective system for the modern user. Developed by Grand Master Angelo Baldissone with over 45 years of experience in many different types of martial Arts like Kung Fu, Karate, Kyusho Jutsu, Dim Mak, Panantukan, Italian Knife etc, the core concepts of these martial arts were taken along with the body movements and mechanics to escape an attacker with the right kind of footwork and hit at the enemy's vital spots.

Based primarily on Kyusho Jutsu, the Filipino Kyusho system has an immediate impact on the victim, but the victim can revive himself after a few minutes. This is a street effective Martial Art.

SYSTEMA FROM RUSSIA: 

Systema is a Russian Martial Art based on Empty Hand Fighting Skills. It focusses on hitting the target's pressure points for getting the desired results. 

Systema can be called as a SPORTS VERSION of the Real Kyusho Fighting. 

SYSTEMA IS LETHAL, BUT NOT DEADLY.

This art is used by the Russian Special Forces to train their Armed Forces in Hand to Hand close quarter combat. 

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VARMA KALAI AND MARMA / MARU KALA: 

In Varma Kalai of siddhar Tradition the main emphasis is on empty hand fighting systems.

The Varma Kalai Martial Art is divided into two different components. They are

1. Kuthu Varisai and 
2. Adi Murai

They are also sometimes called Varma Kuthu Varisai and Varma Adimurai.

There are different stages of training in these arts. They are as follows

1. Sports component called ADITHADI or ADITHADA.
2. Weapons based art called VARMA SILAMBAM AND VARMA VAAZH 
3. DEADLY PRESSURE POINT ART - VARMA ATI

In the Sports component called ADITHADI, strong emphasis is given to a lethal and practical Unarmed Combat application.

The student first learns all aspects of striking, grappling and counters. 

It resembles a combination of Muay Boran, Pankration, Vale Tudo, Kickboxing and Systema.

The lessons they follow are:

Kuthu Varisai (Striking Sequences): Hand Fighting Methods, Leg Fighting Methods and Headbutts 

Thadu Varisai (Blocking Sequence): Blocking with Hands, Blocking with Legs, Blocking with Head 

Pidi Varisai (Grappling Sequence): Locks, Counter Locks and Throws

Adi Varisai (Attacking Sequence): 

Adi Varisai is the final stage of Adithadi, It teaches Striking, Counters and Grappling as a combination. 

Almost every part of the body is used and every move uses the whole body (kinetic linking) to achieve maximum power from the practitioners strike, locks and counters. 

Adi Varisai has got 3 variations for every strike, grip and counters in their arsenal and 12 angles, and once these techniques are learnt, the practitioner only has to use them in different combinations to come up with an unlimited number of attacks and defenses 

Surul Vaazh with 1 Blade

In their Weapon based component, very few but lethal weapons are used.

The primary importance is given to a long stick and Spring Sword.

The Weapons used here are:

Long Stick 

Short Stick 

Knife 

Machete 

Sword 

Spring / Flexible Sword

Surul Vaazh with 2 and 3 Blades

The lessons for all of these weapons include:

Ayudha Varisai - Sequence of weaponry 

Kaaladi - Footworks

Sandai Paada Murai - Fighting against a single, skilled opponent with weapons  

Padai Veechu - Fighting against multiple attackers

Amongst all the above mentioned weapons

THE FLEXIBLE SWORD WAS THE MOST LETHAL WEAPON, THAT IS STILL TODAY NOT USED IN ANY OTHER MARTIAL ARTS, EXCEPT FOR SILAMBAM AND ADI MURAI.

THIS LETHAL WEAPON WAS LATER ADOPTED BY THE KALARIPAYATTU PRACTITIONERS IN KERALA AND ANGAMPORA PRACTITIONERS IN SRI LANKA

THE ANCIENT ORIGIN OF THIS WEAPON AND IS USAGE ORIGINALLY BELONGS TO THE TRADITION OF THE TAMILS.

IT WAS ONLY 60 YEARS BACK THIS WEAPONS WAS ADOPTED BY KALARIPAYATTU AND ANGAMPORA.

In the Pressure Point Attack method called VARMA ATI, the student comes to know about the 108 vital points on the human body, 

Varma Ati teaches the student locations, angles of attack, modified striking techniques to yuse on the 108 Varmam points and also teaches some revival techniques called "Adangal maruthuvam"

Lessons include

Finger Positions 

Centers 

Attacks: Lethal Points, Common Points 

Revivals: Revival at Centers, Common Revivals 

Kuthu Kattai: A small stick slightly greater than the width of the practitioners palm, can cause devastating effects when used with the knowledge of Varma Ati. 

Amirtha Nilai - Varma Ati

This concept explains the effectiveness of attack on Varmam depends on the lunar movement. The Varma point keeps moving from toe to head and vice-versa with the movement of moon. The movement will be of X shape. The vital Varma points and the poison will travel in the opposite direction. Such effective points of each day are known as the Amrithanila.

THE WEAKNESS OF AYRVEDIC MARMA MARTIAL ART: 

As I have said before, the Ayurvedic Tradition of Marma Martial Art as practiced by Northern Style Kalaripayattu practitioners of Kerala and Angampora Martial Artists of Sri Lanka are that though they use the art of pressure point strike, they miss some of the key elements in their martial art combat. They are: 

1. Amirtha Nilai Varma Ati 
2. Kuthu Kattai lessons 
3. Using the Internal Energy for Knock outs

These 3 major elements that are widely and importantly used in the Siddha Tradition of Varma Kalai arts are found to be missing in the Ayurvedic Tradition of Marma Martial Art.

Some Kalaripayattu practitioners learn both Varma Kalai of Tamil Nadu and Kalaripayattu and have incorporated these elements into their teachings.

WANT TO LEARN THE MOST EFFECTIVE PRESSURE POINT MARTIAL ART...???? 

IT IS NONE OTHER THAN THE SIDDHAR TRADITION OF VARMA KALAI...!!!!

I have written extensively on Pressure Point arts in this post to cover the whole topic. 

People are more obsessed about learning Dim Mak or Kyusho Jutsu.

I have also given you about the difference between Dim Mak and Kyusho Jutsu.

BUT...., VARMA KALAI OF TAMIL NADU IS THE MOTHER MARTIAL ART OF BOTH KYUSHO JUTSU AND DIM MAK...!!!!

A BOLD CLAIM...????

YES...!!!!! A BOLD CLAIM 

In Varma Kalai, when the varma point is struck by a master, the victim or in this case, the student gets immediate reaction, or the Varma Kalai has got instant reaction on him.

BUT WAIT...... IT'S NOT LIKE KYUSHO, WHERE A STUDENT CAN GET UP AND WALK ALRIGHT WITHIN SECONDS....

IF THE VARMA KALAI AASAAN DOES NOT REVIVE THE STUDENT USING ADANGAL METHOD OF THIRAVUKOL METHOD, THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THE STUDENT TO DIE WITHIN A FEW HOURS.

Varma Kalai is NOT like Dim Mak also, where the victim gets only delayed effects. In Dim Mak, the student gets delayed symptoms and delayed death. 

BUT, IN VARMA KALAI, NOT ONLY IS THE EFFECT IMMEDIATE, THE SYMPTOMS LIKE BLOOD CLOT APPEARS IMMEDIATELY AND DEATH IS A LITTLE DELAYED... UNLIKE DIM MAK WHICH TAKES HOURS TO TAKE AWAY THE LIFE OF THE OPPONENT... BUT, WITHIN TWO HOURS IF THE STUDENT IS NOT REVIVED BY THE MASTER, THE STUDENT WOULD DIE AFTER TWO HOURS.

SUCH IS THE POWER OF THIS MOST ANCIENT 50,000 YEAR OLD TRADTION OF THE SIDDHARS OF TAMIL NADU 

Now, let us see some of the similarities of Varma Kalai and Dim Mak Martial Arts

VARMA KALAI	DIM MAK
Varma Kalai describes 108 vital spots in the Human Body	Dim Mak also describes the same 108 vital spots on the Human Body
Varma Kalai makes use of Amirtha Nilai (Nectar placement) to hit the vital spots to get maximum effects	Dim Mak maskes use of the Meridian Attack system to get maximum result for striking the Dim Mak point
There are 10 channels in the Human body at which all these 108 Varma points are located. Even 1 channel (called Nadi) when hit causes devastating effects	Similar to the Tamils tradition of 10 Nadis varma adi, there is a concept almost similar in Dim Mak, called the 10 Killing Hands.
The correct usage of 10 Nadi varma adi along with Amirtha Nilai varma adi combinatiobn, the Internal Organs of a person like heart, kidney, lungs etc would be seriously damaged	In Dim Mak, the concept of Ghost Hands, is similar to ther art of damaging the Internal organs
Main Importance in Varma Kalai is given to train the student in Chuvadu Murai, which means footwork movements to move fastly within a short range and/or long range for fight	There is a serious importance given for Footwork movements in Kung Fu as well.
Before taking up the art of Varma Kalai the student trains in Kuthu Varisai, Adimurai, Pidimurai etc	Before taking up Dim Mak, the student trains in any style of Shaolin Kung Fu
Advanced Varma Kalai practitioners would be familiar with Nokku Varmam and Meitheenda Kalai	Advanced Dim Mak practitioners would be familiar with The Chi Transmission System

Now, we are going to see the similarities between Varma Kalai of Tamil Nadu and Kyusho Jutsu of Japan. 

VARMA KALAI	KYUSHO JUTSU
Varma Kalai of Tamil Nadu describes 108 vital pressure points in the Human Body	Kyusho Jutsu also describes the same 108 vital pressure points
Varma Kalai makes use of Amirtha Nilai (Nectar placement) to hit the vital spots to get maximum effects	Kyusho Jutso makes use of Centerline principle and atemi waza concepts in its martial arts applications
Certain Varma Kalai points are triggered and makes the opponent unconscious by tapping two different spots simultaeneously	Kyusho Jutsu also makes use of Double Tap Pressure Points
Varma Kalai causes immediate affecton the victim, which later will have a deadly effect on the victim	Kyusho Jutsu also will have immediate effect on the opponent, but it is not dedly
Varma Kalai Martial Art gives much importance to Chuvadu Murai (Footwork Movements)	Kyusho Jutsu also gives primary importance to Tai Sabaki (Footwork Movements)
Before taking up the art of Varma Kalai the student trains in Kuthu Varisai, Adimurai, Pidimurai etc	Before taking up the art of Kyusho Jutsu, the student trains in Karate
Varma Kalai makes use of Kuthu Kattai stick to cause devastating pain and/or death	Kyusho Jutsu practitioners make use of Kubotan or Yawara stick, wich was developed from Kuthu Kattai stick
Advanced Varma Kalai practitioners would be familiar with Nokku Varmam and Meitheenda Kalai	Advanced Kyusho Jutsu practitioners would be familiar with KO or No Touch Knock Out System

THUS, IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT THESE ARTS WERE DERIVED FROM THE TRADITIONAL TAMIL SIDDHARS ART OF VARMA KALAI

THERE IS ANOTHER ART IN INDIA, WHOSE PRACTITIONERS CLAIM THAT THEIR ART IS THE MOTHER OF ALL MARTIAL ARTS.

I THINK THIS ARTICLE HAS DEBUNKED THEIR CLAIM 

THE NAME OF THE OTHER ART IS CALLED KALARIPAYATTU.

HOW MARTIAL ARTS WENT FROM THE PANDIYAN KINGDOM TO CHINA AND JAPAN?

Mostly, when the practitioners of Kalaripayattu claim that their art is the Mother of All Martial Arts, they point out ONLY to Bodhidharma.

I REALLY PITY THEIR IGNORANCE, AS DURING THE DAYS OF BODHIDHARMA THERE WERE NO PRACTITIONERS OF KALARIPAYATTU. 

BODHIDHARMA WAS THE SON OF A PALLAVA KING, WHICH BELONGED TO THE TAMILS. THE KANCHI CITY, AS DESCRIBED IN THE CHINESE SCROLLS OF BODHIDHARMA REFERS TO THESE TWO CHARACTERS    "香至" 

TSUTOMO KAMBE, A JAPANESE RESEARCHER FOUND IN THE SCROLLS AND HAS REVEALED THAT THE TWO CHINESE CHARACTERS THAT REFER TO BODHIDHARMA'S PLACE OF BIRTH AS "KANG" AND "CHEE" WHICH HE LATER CLARIFIED AS KANCHI CITY.

IT IS ALSO TO BE NOTED THAT KANCHI CITY WAS THE CAPITAL OF THE PALLAVA KINGDOM, WHICH WAS RULED BY THE TAMIL KINGS.

IN FACT, EVEN THE STATE IN WHICH KALARIPAYATTU IS PRACTICED TODAY - - KERALA, DID NOT EVEN EXIST DURING THE DAYS OF BODHIDHARMA.

REMEMBER -- KERALA IS JUST 60 YEARS OLD, NOW....!!!! 

NOW, leave out Bodhidharma for a while.

It was before 500BC that Siddhar Bhogar took Martial Arts like Kuthu Varisai and Siddha and Varmam Medicine to China, which later developed into Accupressure.

Siddhar Bhogar also introduced the art of Varma Ponoosi method (method of stimulating the pressure points using a Golden Needle on the Pressure Points, which is still practiced in Tamil Nadu. 

THIS ART WAS ADOPTED BY THE CHINESE IN THE NAME OF ACUPUNCTURE. 

Even today, the Acupuncture doctors can get the correct point only by fluke (by poking the needles by 10 - 20 in a line)

BUT, Varma Kalai practitioners can get the Ponoosi (Golden Needle) to the right point to cure the disease.

After Siddhar Bhogar, it was a Kshatriya of Tamil Nadu, named Guna Varmar, who later took martial arts from Tamil Nadu to China during 320 AD, almost 200 years before Bodhidharma

At the turn of 5th Century AD, Bodhidharma took Martial Arts and Zen Buddhism to China.

BODHIDHARMA DID NOT TEACH THE CHINESE THE FULL ART OF VARMA KALAI, AS HE KNEW THAT CHINESE WOULD MISUSE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ART. 

LATER WHEN BODHIDHARMA TRAVELED TO JAPAN, HE TAUGHT THE JAPANESE ABOUT THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE PRESSURE POINT ARTS, WHICH HE HAD HID FROM THE CHINESE.

THUS WERE THE DIM MAK OF CHINA  AND KYUSHO JUTSU OF JAPAN DEVELOPED.

BUT...--...THE ORIGINAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE ANCIENT 50,000 YEAR OLD VARMA KALAI IS STILL PRESERVED AND PRACTICED ONLY IN TAMIL NADU.   

MY FOLLOWING ARTICLES WOULD BE EXPOSING 

1. HOW THE NINJAS WERE TRAINED BY THE PANDIYAN KINGDOM SOLDIERS FOR THE SECOND WORLD WAR
2. HOW CHINESE KUNG - FU (NOT ONLY SHAOLIN) WAS DEVELOPED FROM KUTHU VARISAI
3. HOW KARATE (ESPECIALLY OKINAWAN) WAS DEVELOPED FROM VARMA KUTHU VARISAI 

AND SO ON.. AND ON.. AND ON..

STAY TUNED READERS....!!!!