Martial arts courses in India

Hi, Does anybody know of a rigorous Martial arts course in India, in the lines of Shaolin-temple. Basically, stay and just learn martial arts, physical fitness and nothing else.
Actually, I am looking for a physical+mental conditioning camp, as a break now. I looked into yoga courses but since I was always interested in martial arts, I think that would suit me better.
Thanks for you answers.

Check the website www.kalariworld.com

They offer some courses and they are the real deal. They know how to train for real.


Fullred

Just note that to learn the basics in kalari will take 12 years, it is much much more than just a self-defence! It is a very beautiful martial-art which i studied for around 2 months in a village in kerala, waking each morning at 5am (before sunrise). The practise consisted of breathing and stretching exercises, aerobic exercise until sweat was pouring off me and after all that learning sequences of moves, which are particularly difficult at the beginning. It will take a long time to 'internalise' what you learn, but the rewards will be great. But as i said a few months will never do it justice, it was what was used to train warriors in ages immemorial.

Where did you do your 2 months training Satyagraha?

well i did it in a remote town where i was the only foreigner, circumstances led me there, i didn't seek it out. I certainly wouldn't recommend going there to learn, not because the teacher wasn't good because he was great but he knew little english. that town was simply not a tourist place, i saw ONE foreign tourist in the 4 months i stayed there.

What i would recommend to you is to go to the famous kalari in Trivandrum, although personally i'm not a big fan of the city itself the kalari is infamous or perhaps study in cochin. Either way you can research on the net and i'm sure you can find a suitable course.

The ones tailored to tourists are perhaps better as you will learn techniques so you will come away with something tangible. As i mentioned earlier this martial art truely takes years to master, but you could gleam an insight into it.

The styles vary immensely from place to place - there are several purer styles and then mixed styles.

You may want to pick up an excellent book - "when the body becomes all eyes" by Phillip Zarrilli a dance-drama/anthropology professor who studied kalari for a number of years in Kerala.

Anyway, i hope i've provided you with a sufficient answer.