Background:
The Kadihai school existed from around 4th century BC to the 10 century AD, south of present day Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu.
Here the students were taught the original philosophy of the native land of South India (which existed prior to the arrival of the Aryans). The syllabus included training the physical, mental and the spiritual body.
Students were taught martial arts which included techniques of defense and offense and intense physical conditioning which was of immense use in the battle-field. The mental body was trained with all the subtleties and nuances necessary to handle and eventually master the mind in all possible situations that warriors had to face. The spiritual body was trained with detailed instructions from the Shastras which encompassed the knowledge and above all, the wisdom necessary for the students to administer and rule kingdoms.
The entire teaching was based on the principles of Dharma, as detailed by the ancient sages of South India. The majority of the ruling clans sent their sons to study at the Kadihai school and usually preference was given students from this school who graduated with honors, in matters such as succession, etc.
The Kadihai System:
The Kadihai Martial Academy has revived this ancient tradition and all teachings are based on the principles followed by this ancient and glorious school.
For physical training, we train the students in the internal martial art of Tai Chi Chuan & the external martial art of Shito-ryu Karate-do. We also train them in weapons art systems of Kendo, Silambam and Kobudo. For mental training, meditation is taught initially and then followed up by intricate training systems as the students advance. Finally, spiritual training from the Shastras is introduced to those who have proven themselves in the earlier stages.
Physical Conditioning:
We focus on two main areas of external physical conditioning, strength and flexibility. Internally, we focus on nutrition.
To develop strength, we follow the traditional exercises taught by Mohandas Asan, a leading Thalimbu master of Karnataka. These are free standing and build strength without side effects. Further, floor exercises from Kalaripayatu are taught. As a matter of policy, we do not train in weights neither recommend them due to the adverse side effects noted in students over the years.
For flexibility we follow the Yoga asanas specifically developed by Dr. Jagadish Iyengar. Decades of treating sports injuries, led Dr.Jagadish to understand the injuries that occur in every martial art & sport due to repetition of movement using a specific sets of muscles. To counter this, he devised a program that heals and strengthens these overused or injured soft tissues of the body.
On nutrition, Dr.Jagadish Iyengar has worked out the ideal athlete’s diet in Indian conditions. As a broad rule, vegetarian,organic food is preferred while natural supplements such as honey, are suggested. The diet is available for the students here.
Mental Conditioning:
All martial practice involves uniting the body and mind. Integration of mind and body energy leads to tremendous power and focus. In simple terms, every martial art trains the mind along with the body. Practicing the form increases the focus of mind, lengthens the attention span and improves posture - both mental and physical. After basic training, the Kadihai system has a detailed program which defines the mind, helps one understand it and train it. Simple meditation is the first step, and the more advanced techniques are taught to students who qualify. Study of the Shastras also begins at this stage.
Spiritual Conditioning:
This is the highest level of training in the Kadihai system. Shastras are taught and explained in detail. The mental infrastructure itself is examined and changed where necessary. The various karmas of the past, present and future are investigated and directions to change are shown. The final goal of the Kadihai system is enlightenment.
Research - The Kadihai Foundation:
This is the research wing of our school and is headed by Dr.M. Manikavasagam, a Ph.D in Marma-Adi from the University of Madras. A student of Dai-Sensei Moses Thilak and a colleague of Sensei Jaideep Bhale Rao, he is regarded as the foremost authority on Marma-Adi and the Marma Shastras. Manik Asan has been learning from Marma masters for the past 25 years and has developed an in depth understanding of the Indian martial arts. He is in the process of collecting and classifying the Marma shastras and works with a group of Asans or masters in the preservation of this ancient knowledge. We intend to publish the Shastras in English in the near future.