THE CHOLA KINGDOM AND THE ORIGIN OF BOKATOR (CAMBODIA); LERDRIT, MUAY BORAN AND MUAY THAI (THAILAND); KALI, ESCRIMA AND ARNIS (FILIPINO), BERSILAT AND PENTCAK SILAT (INDONESIA)

The Chola Empire: A Tamil Kingdom that Ruled the World and the Trade for Centuries.

I am sure, that, it is a fact that everyone would be aware of, that the great King, Alexander the Great, who once ruled the world, was not defeated in any of his wars.

BUT -- HOW MANY OF YOU, IN INDIA, OR AT THE LEAST IN TAMIL NADU ARE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THE GREAT KING OF THE CHOLA EMPIRE - RAJA RAJA CHOLAN WAS ALSO VICTORIOUS IN ALL HIS BATTLES.

YES... I HOPE MY READERS GOT THE DRIFT.... 

RAJA RAJA CHOLAN WAS NOT DEFEATED IN ANY OF HIS BATTLES.

ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR THIS IS THEIR STRONG MILITARY FORCE.

In Ancient Times, The Warriors of the Pandiyan and Chola Kingdoms were the bravest and the fiercest of ALL Warriors around the world.

A small video demonstration of Silambam and Kuthu Varisai

THE BRITISH KNIGHTS WERE AFRAID EVEN AT THE SIGHT OF THESE CHOLA AND PANDIYAN SOLDIERS WHEN THEY CAME AS A FLOWING RIVER FOR WAR.

In India, it were ONLY the Cholas who had conquered countries outside India, and extended their Kingdom to such an extent, that even Alexander the Great or Ashoka the great who had conquered most of India, but was unable even to touch the borders of Ancient Tamilagam could ever dream of.

You can see the extent to which the Kings of the Chola Kingdom had extended their Kingdom.

The main reason for this is that they had a Powerful Army and Navy force.

The Cholas were very Brilliant as well as Brave Warriors who were trained in the Traditional Martial Arts of Varma Kuthu Varisai (Empty Hand Fighting Style) and Varmakalai Silambam (Deadly Weapon Based Martial Art). This was one of the Great Reasons for their victory over so many countries that they had conquered.

Not only were they trained in these Martial Arts, BUT, in whatever places they laid their feet, they planted their Traditional Martial Arts.

The CHOLAS were the ones in India to have a great sea trade with other countries around the world.

Wherever the Cholas had Sea Trade, in all those countries, they also planted their Weapon based Martial art (Varmakalai Silambam).

Influence of Kuthu Varisai and Silambam could be seen in all the countries which the Cholas had conquered and in all places where the Cholas had sea trade as well.

In order to know more about the Empty Hand Fighting Style, Kuthu Varisai, 

Punch into Google Search:

"KUTTU VARISAI: THE UNKNOWN HISTORY OF BODHIDHARMAS MARTIAL ART" 

One of the prominent practitioners of Kuthu Varisai was Karikala Cholan.

His name Karikalan was given to him at a later stage.

The term Kari Kalan has two different meanings. They are

1. The man with Charred (kari) Legs (kalan) 
2. Elephant (kari) Slayer (kalan) 

Ancient methods of Varma Kalai training involved punching and kicking on woods, which some say, could have charred his legs.

This training, now though extinct in Varmakalai (Kuthu Varisai), is still practiced in Wing Chun Martial Art of China, which had it's origin from Kuthu Varisai. 

Among the different styles of Kuthu Varisai, i.e., 

1. Thanjavur Kuthu Varisai 
2. Madurai Kuthu Varisai and 
3. Varma Adimurai of (South Travancore areas)

The Thanjavur Kuthu Varisai is the very famous and popular style of Kuthu Varisai, which is also the only style practiced outside Tamil Nadu, in Kerala, Karnataka, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka among the Tamil Communities.

Today, Kuthu Varisai is gaining popularity among the Tamil Youths. 

Not only among the Tamil Youths, but also people who have searched history and have come to know that 

KUTHU VARISAI IS THE MOTHER OF ALL EMPTY HAND FIGHTING SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD 

are interested in learning this art. Kuthu Varisai is becoming popular in London, Canada and France today.

In Kuthu Varisai, the student is taught the Footwork (geometrical patterns) to move within a closed range or long range for escaping the strike of an opponent and to handle multiple attackers at the same time.

Generally, the student would be practicing the footwork patterns for about 3 months, before going into the Sandai paada Murai (Fight or Pair Combat lessons)

Kuthu Varisai maskes use of Fists, Elbows, Knees, Legs and Headbutts

Kuthu Varisi teaches strikes, grapplings, throws and locks.

Kuthu Varisai makes use of Animal based stances and sequences like tiger snake, elephant, eagle and monkey.

Monkey style in Kuthu Varisai

The picture to the left, shows Master Zacria Rahama, who teaches Kuthu Varisai, Silambam and Varma Kalai in France performing a Monkey Stance.

Each different stance has got a particular benefit on the students health and flexibility.

Advanced Kuthu Varisai students would be familiar with Pressure Point Strikes for Combat called "Varma Ati" and knows where to strike and how to strike the pressure point to cause devastating effects like dysfunction, death, delayed death or sometimes only severe pain etc.

NOW --Coming to the point, I am going to show you how 

Kuthu Varisai gave birth to Bokator (Cambodian Martial Art)

Kuthu Varisai gave birth to Lerdrit, Muay Boran and Muay Thai (Thailand Martial Arts) 

Kuthu Varisai and Silambam gave birth to Kali, Escrima and Arnis (Filipino Martial Arts)

Kuthu Varisai and Silambam gave birth to Ber-Silat and Pentcak-Silat (Indonesian Martial Arts) 

But, before I go further, first

Punch into google search:
KUTHU VARISAI - A BASIC OUTLINE BY BENJAMIN FURROWS to understand this article fully

KUTHU VARISAI: THE ORIGIN OF BOKATOR

Before I start, I would like to tell you one thing. Unlike other Martial Arts, Kuthu Varisai and its practitioners are still shrouded in deep mystery.

What we see in YouTube is just a fraction of the original art.

The reason for this is because, REAL Kuthu Varisai practitioners DO NOT teach this art publicly to anyone and everyone who wants to learn this art.

In order to get knowledge about this art, and to learn this art, I had to go to the nook and corner of the villages in Thanjavur, Madurai and Nagercoil areas.

We all know that it was Raja Raja Cholan who built Angor Wat. It was during this time that the soldiers of Raja Raja Cholan taught both Kuthu Varisai and Silambam to the people of Cambodia.

Thuis Kuthu Varisai, later gave birth to another Martial Art in Cambodia named Bokator.

It is a Lethal and Practical street Martial Art.

Below i am linking a video of the History of Angor Wat and Bokator

In the Bokator portion, I am sure that those who have learnt Kuthu Varisai would know what is happening here.

THIS WAS HOW THE KHMERISH MARTIAL ART BOKATOR WAS FORMED.

KUTHU VARISAI AND SILAMBAM: THE ORIGIN OF LERDRIT, MUAY BORAN, MUAY THAI AND KRABI KRABONG: 

Muay Boran (Ancient Muay Thai)

Lerdrit (Military Muay Thai)

Coming to know about the Martial Arts of Thailand we are sure that today, only Muay Thai is the common sports practiced here.

BUT, when we look at the History of Muay Thai, it is of no doubt that Muay Thai is only a SPORTS VERSION of Muay Boran. 

Both Muay Boran and Lerdrit are practical and lethal martial arts.

The Cholas had very close ties with the people of Thailand. 

All the inscriptions found in the South East Asian countries are in the Grantha script, in Tamil Language.

Chola traders worshipped karaikal ammayar who was also called as "pei". Chola traders from karaikal traded mostly with siam (thailand) and some settled there. One such temple for karaikal ammayar(pei) is found in pimay,north east siam  

Numerous Shiva Temples are found in Thailand.

NOT ONLY THAT -- EVEN TODAY THIRUPAVAI AND DEVARAM ARE SUNG IN THAILAND.

MOST OF THE THAILAND KINGS STARTED CALLING THEMSELVES AS CHOLAS.

Even Kamba Ramayana entered thailand.Thais were devout hindus earlier. Thailand's earlier capital was ayudhya(based on ramayana ayodhya). 

The ramakin(ramayana) of thailand has more similarities with kambaramayana than valmiki ramayana (annalum nokkinal avalum nokkinal, mayil ravanan story which are unique to kambaramayan appears in Ramakin.

Ramakin is a corrupt form of "rama keerthi".

In Ramakin, rama is called as 'phra Ram'(Ramachandra prabu??) and seetha is called as 'nangsidha' (nangai seetha ?)  

AN ARAICHIMANI WAS TIED ON ALL THAI KINGS PALACE, BASED ON THE STORY OF MANU NEETHI CHOLAN

IT WAS DURING THIS PERIOD OF CHOLAS THAT THE THAI'S LEARNT THE FIGHTING ART OF THE CHOLAS, ESPECIALLY KUTHU VARISAI, WHICH LATER GAVE BIRTH TO LERDRIT AND MUAY BORAN.

THE ARMED MARTIAL ART OF THAILAND CALLED KRABI KRABONG WAS FROM VAAL VEECHU OF SILAMBAM MARTIAL ART (THE ARMED COMPONENT OF KUTHU VARISAI)

I AM SURE THAT ALL OF YOU ALL WOULD BE FAMILIAR THAT THE THAI MASSAGE IS VERY POPULAR, AND PEOPLE WHO VISIT THAILAND WOULD SURELY GO FOR A THAI MASSAGE.

THAI MASSAGE HAS ITS ROOTS IN VARMA KALAI MASSAGE FROM TAMIL NADU.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY THAI PEOPLE ARE VERY FRIENDLY WITH THE TAMILS.

THIS WAS HOW THAI MASSAGE AND THE MARTIAL ARTS OF THAILAND WERE DEVELOPED FROM TRADITIONAL TAMIL MARTIAL AND MEDICAL SYSTEMS 

KUTHU VARISAI AND SILAMBAM: THE ORIGIN OF KALI, ESCRIMA AND ARNIS: 

Unlike Thailand and Cambodia, The Filipino Martial Arts, which also had their roots in Traditional Tamil Arts, they give more importance to Weapon based arts.

The Armed Martial Art called Silambam in Tamil Nadu, is the predecessor of ALL Filipino MArtial Arts like Kali, Arnis and Escrima.

Double Short Stick Silambam

Rajendra Chola, son of the Raja Raja won many countries in South East Asia. The inscription named all the countries and islands he won around 1025 AD. K.A.Nilakanta Sastri, the greatest authority on South Indian History has written about his conquests. But when he wrote about the Cholas 75 years ago Laguna inscription was not discovere. Only Rajendra’s Tamil inscription was known. Now we know Philippine islands were under Tamil rulers even before Rajendra invaded South East Asian countries.

The Filipinos were ruled by the Cholas. It was during this time or even prior to that, that the Martial Arts of Kuthu Varisai and Silambam DOMINATED THE PHILIPPINES and gave birth to ALL THE 3 MARTIAL ARTS OF KALI, ESCRIMA AND ARNIS.

Especially, the Armed Martial Art of Silambam is the BASE for ALL Kali, Escrima and Arnis.

KUTHU VARISAI AND SILAMBAM: THE ORIGIN OF BER-SILAT AND PENTCAK-SILAT: 

Ber Silat Demonstration

Pentcak Silat Demonstration

It is still such a wonder to see how the Armed Martial Art of Silambam has benn the DIRECT MOTHER OF MOST OF THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN MARTIAL ARTS.

Silambam students of France (Master Zacria Rahama)

Ber-Silat and Pentcak-Silat are also some of the children among the many children Martial Arts of Silambam.

When the Cholas had extensive Sea Trade with the Indonesians, the Weapons of Silambam Martial Art was one among the major trades with the Indonesians.

Both, Ber-silat and Pentcak-silat were born from Kuthu Varisai and Silambam.

Kuthu Varisai Padam 

Beginners Kuthu Varisai Fight

BERSILAT AND PENTCAKSILAT MAKE USE OF WEAPONS AND EMPTY HANDS AS PRACTICED IN SILAMBAM AND KUTHU VARISAI.


THUS, WE SEE THAT ALL THESE SOUTH EAST ASIAN MARTIAL ARTS HAD THEIR ORIGIN IN KUTHU VARISAI AND SILAMBAM MARTIAL ARTS OF THE TAMILS.