Pondicherry-based Jothi Senthil Kannan who has been practising silambam since the age of seven, explains, “When using a long stick the silambam exponent rotates it in every possible direction. Consequently, the stick crosses the body to a total of 32 times. In times of battle, the warrior was thus protected from all directions. But as a form of exercise it works every tendon and muscle of the practitioner.”Clearly, the technique involves immense speed and control, backed by acute concentration and focus. Jothi elaborates, “A silambam expert can perform up to speeds of 100 kilometres per hour! However, to be effectively fast one must also be effectively controlled, for the supreme skill lies in this sound balance.”
Before graduating to the use of weapons, a student of silambam must learn kuthuvarisai (the art of using bare hands) for the first six months. Physical perfection is intended initially through the practice of Tharai Padam (floor lesson), and other such exercises that work on building stamina, toning muscles, strengthening the nerves, and regulating breath.
If marma adi is an offshoot of kalaripayattu, varmakalai is the art of attacking vital points learnt in the course of practising silambam. An expert can determine the body type of the opponent by touching one’s five fingers, each equated to the five elements namely, the thumb (earth), little finger (sky), index finger (wind), middle finger (fire), and ring finger (water). Once this is determined, the silambam practitioner can either use it to advantage in combative mechanism or employ it for healing purposes. However, Jothi observes, “Healing is more an extension of the art of silambam, a consequence rather than a purpose learnt for its own sake. And yet, this is only possible under the guidance of the guru, followed by many years of devout practice.”
And then, the body is not the only gainer. Silambam trains the mind and the spirit at many subtle levels. Jothi notes, “Through arduous practice, the practitioner learns to work in sync with the body, mind and spirit. What one then experiences is a heightened state of awareness, of being able to observe even the subtlest movement both within yourself and outside.”
