Children jive to traditional martial arts

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Summer camps have recognised the need to familiarise children with traditional martial arts, moving ahead of the concept of just getaway sports. Taking in children in the age group of four to 14 years, they strike a perfect balance between their training and overall development.  Talent can be found in every nook and corner of the city, demanding to be identified and nurtured, trainers say. Jawahar Bal Bhavan and Lakshmibai Nation College for Physical Education of the Sports Authority of India are few among those who offer lessons in desi martial arts.

Since the camp extends only two months, most of the courses are modified in such a way that they gain as much within the limited time. “Technology has been a deviation to a lot of kids, and so summer camps have been a reason for them to take part in various activities,” believes a Kalari trainer who prefers anonymity. 
As for the students, it’s a chance for them to explore what interests them, which further helps them decide if they want to take up the art. Rajesh, a Marma Kalari expert, says martial arts lose essence if not challenging. 

“Creating two batches based on a girl’s strength and agility to that of a boy’s would hinder their performance. The real art of defence steps in when tackling an opponent much stronger becomes easier,” he said. “The martial arts in raw form demand efforts and mental maturity."  Psychological development of the student in these two months is weighed with equal importance to that of physical training. The programmes include lectures and classes on ‘Moving Mind Meditation’ and relaxation techniques to avoid chances of criminal tendencies forming in the young minds.

Sivaprasad Sadhanand, a trainer at a summer, said; “Gone are the days when Karate was considered as a self-defence art.”  As he goes about teaching the batch on making one’s body the weapon and defending attacks the classic “empty hand technique”, he dreads the fact that people have been misled to think that Karate is all about fighting and attacking.

At a time when controversies about favouritism in competitions and prizes for sale are not uncommon, many trainers are doing their bit to keep the art alive.   Martial arts training, in most of the camps, have shifted their focus on developing students’ cognitive skills and the way they conduct themselves rather than commercialising the art form through competitions.