Ankathari (Metal weapons)
or the use of metal weapons.

Kattaram – Dagger :
In this advanced category of Kalaripayatt-teaching the student needs to be more courageous because of the increased danger. ‘Kattaram’ is a double-edged, sharp weapon, dagger, made of tempered steel of 1 to 1.5 feet length with specific handle. Thrusts, cuts, parries, locks and throws are principles aspects incorporated in a dagger fight.



Puliankam (sword and sheild)
“Puli” means Tiger . ‘Ankam’ means fight. Most of the techniques employed in puliyankam are derived from animal fights, particularly the cat-like wild animals. Like in all other types of combat, puliyankam involves all important techniques of maipayatt, especially jumps and flow of the body. The fighters will in dentify themselves with the animals by using their expressions. In this fight blocking and attacking will often happen simultaneously. The sword and the sheild symbolize Lord Shiva and Goddess Sakthi respectively.

Kuntham (spear to Spear fight)
The fighters are using only the spear in their hands. The sharp point of the spear will be aimed to thrust to various vulnerable points of the adversary’s body. The other party will have to block or lock with the spear to defend himself. So the spear is used from both the sides. The spear can also be used in a waving or cutting way. Actually the ‘Kettukari’ or long staff-fight is the prelude of this fight.

Marapidicha Kuntham (sword and sheild against spear)
In this combat one is armed with sword an shield and the other with a spear. As the weapons are different the combatants here cannot fight at close quarters. The sword man has to be very careful in his blocking for the spear is pointing at him from a longer distance. During the wartime adversaries would meet often with different weapons. This type of fight is a good example of training in how to deal with this situation.

Kathiyum Thala
‘Kathi’ means knife in this fight one man will attack with a knife or two knifes and the other person will defend himself by using blocking techniques. This blocking he can also do by using a cloth. This cloth originates from a part of a traditional habit of cloth wearing.

Urumi
This flexible sword is a double-edged sharp weapon. The blade is about a person’s body-length and can be kept around the waist of the warrior because of the very practical way to keep this weapon it was also a very frightening weapon because it was very difficult to come to close quarters with the person using the ‘Urumi’. One person skilled in the use of the weapon could kill many adversaries. The use of this weapon is also highly dangerous for the user himself because of its strangling nature!

Other traditional weapons in Kalaripayatt are venmazhu (axe, soolam (trident) churika (a short type of double - edged sword) and kaduthala (otta-shaped metal weapon with a sharp edge).