45. Lucy May Constantini | Kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘: Martial Art of Kerala

Apr 15, 2024

Lucy May Constantini, a researcher of the south-Indian martial art tradition of kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘, discusses the history of kaḷari, Śākta Tantra influence, gender dynamics, training with weapons, parallels with yogāsana, and the renaissance of modern postural yoga. She also previews her upcoming online course on Kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘. The podcast explores Kalari's origins, religious aspects, gender dynamics, and the shift in deity representations in South Indian traditions.

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Introduction

00:00 • 3min

Exploring the Path of Research in Kalari Martial Art

02:33 • 13min

Exploring the Origins and Evolution of Kalari Payata Martial Art

15:45 • 23min

Exploring the Religious Nature of Kaladi Practice

38:15 • 28min

Exploring the Shift from Potent Shakta Female Energy to Masculine Deity Representations in South Indian Traditions

01:06:03 • 2min

Exploring Pronunciation Challenges in Malayalam Language

01:07:38 • 7min

Discussion about Upcoming Live Course and Podcast Support

01:14:16 • 2min

In this episode we speak with Lucy May Constantini about her fascinating research and practical experience studying the south-Indian martial art tradition of kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘. We discuss Lucy's background of training in Kerala, the history of kaḷari, the role of the gurukkaḷ ("lineage-holder"), the tradition's Śākta Tantra context in Kerala, medieval ankam battles, the gendered dynamics of male and female practitioners, training with weapons, parallels with yogāsana and the renaissance of modern postural yoga, and much more. We conclude by previewing Lucy's upcoming online course, YS 128 | Kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘: Embodying the Cosmic Wind.

Speaker Bio

Lucy May Constantini is a dance-artist turned scholar who first encountered the South Indian martial art kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘ in 2002 during a residential dance workshop in South India. She went on to train extensively in kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘ at CVN Kalari Sangham in Thiruvananthapuram. In 2012 she was initiated into and apprenticed in kaḷaricikilsa, kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘’s therapeutic system. She was awarded with distinction a masters in South Asia Area Studies from SOAS, University of London in 2018, and recently submitted her PhD thesis in the School of Religious Studies at the Open University in the UK. This was funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Open-Oxford-Cambridge Doctoral Training Partnership and supported by the École française d'Extrême-Orient in Pondicherry. Lucy’s research was co-created with the lineage-holder of CVN Kalari Sangham and explores the relationship between practice and textual traditions in kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘. Her interdisciplinary research encompasses ethnography, drawing on the relationship since 2002 with CVN Kalari in Thiruvananthapuram, and the study of manuscripts in Malayalam. Her research methodology draws on her background in dance and somatic practices, where her work investigates the confluence of her praxes of postmodern dance, martial arts and yoga.

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