Great-grandmother keeps Indian martial art aliveMeenakshi Amma practitioner and teacher of 'Kalaripayattu' has trained since she was seven years oldVATAKARA (INDIA) - Deftly parrying her son with a bamboo cane, Meenakshi Amma belies her 78 years with her prowess at kalari, thought to be India's oldest martial art. "When women learn this martial art, they feel physically and mentally strong and it makes them confident to work and travel alone." "There are two divisions in kalaripayattu -- one is that kalaripayattu is peace and the other is kalaripayattu in war," said the "gurukkal" (master). "It's an art that purifies mind, body and soul, improves concentration, speed and patience, regenerates physical and mental energy. "When totally connected mentally and physically to kalari, then the opponent disappears, the body becomes eyes."
