Adimurai

{{Infobox martial art

|image=അടി തട.jpeg

|imagecaption=Adimurai mock combat

|name=Adimurai

|aka=Adithada

|focus=Striking, blocking

|hardness= Full-contact, semi-contact

|country=India

|olympic=No

|creator=Traditionally Siddhars

|parenthood=

|famous_pract=

|meaning=Law of hitting

}}

Adimurai is an Indian martial art originating in modern-day Kanyakumari, the southernmost region in India. It was traditionally practiced in the Kanyakumari district of modern-day Tamil Nadu as well as nearby areas in southeastern Kerala. Its preliminary empty-hand techniques are called Adithada and application of vital points are called Varma Adi, although these terms are sometimes interchangeably used to refer to the martial art itself.{{cite book |last1=Zarrilli |first1=Phillip B. |title=When the Body Becomes All Eyes: Paradigms, Discourses, and Practices of Power in Kalarippayattu, a South Indian Martial Art |date=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-563940-7 |page=27 – 29 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EP6BAAAAMAAJ |access-date=14 January 2021}} Adimurai is a portmanteau in the Tamil language where adi means "to hit or strike" and murai means method or procedure. In modern period it is used alongside other Tamil martial arts.{{cite book|title=The Origin and the Historical Development of Silambam Fencing: An Ancient Self-Defence Sport of India|last=Raj|first=J. David Manuel|publisher=College of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Univ. of Oregon|year=1977|location=Oregon|pages=44, 50, 83}}

History

Adithada is a non-lethal version of Adimurai which was developed in the Tamilnadu region of ancient India. It saw most of its practice in the Chola and Pandya kingdoms, where preliminary empty hand techniques were used.Luijendijk, D.H. (2005) Kalarippayat: India's Ancient Martial Art, Paladin Press, {{ISBN|1-58160-480-7}}

Practice

Adimurai is traditionally practiced outdoors or in unroofed areas. It is mainly practiced by, Kallars, and Nadars of southern Tamil Nadu.{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v32oHSE5t6cC&pg=PA177|title=Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia. A – L|last=Zarilli|first=Philip B.|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2001|isbn=978-1-57607-150-2|editor-last=Green|editor-first=Thomas A.|volume=1|page=177|chapter=India}} Techniques include strictly punching, basic kicking and basic blocking.

In popular culture

Adimurai was depicted in the film Pattas (2020) starring Dhanush, directed by R. S. Durai Senthilkumar.{{cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/dhanush-s-pattas-is-on-ancient-tamil-martial-art-news-tamil-tm0knMbcgefeh.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226065509/https://www.sify.com/movies/dhanush-s-pattas-is-on-ancient-tamil-martial-art-news-tamil-tm0knMbcgefeh.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 December 2019|title=Dhanush's 'Pattas' is on ancient Tamil martial art!|website=Sify|access-date=15 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/dhanush-s-pattas-is-based-on-adimurai-news-tamil-ubokzVebhbfaf.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114123200/https://www.sify.com/movies/dhanush-s-pattas-is-based-on-adimurai-news-tamil-ubokzVebhbfaf.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 January 2020|title=Dhanush's 'Pattas' is based on 'Adimurai'|website=Sify|access-date=15 January 2020}}

Adhiveeran (Udhayanidhi Stalin), the secondary protagonist in the film Maamannan (2023), is an Adimurai tutor.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-08 |title=Maamannan box office collection Day 8: Budget & Total Collection Worldwide |url=https://pkbnews.in/maamannan-box-office-collection-day-8-budget-total-collection-worldwide/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |language=en-GB}}

References

Category:Indian martial arts

Category:Dravidian martial arts

Category:Tamil martial arts

Category:Kalarippayattu

Adimurai

History

Practice

In popular culture

See also

References