INTRODUCTION
"As a kid I was always fascinated with Bruce Lee, Mohammed Ali and Rocky movies, but at school and in the neighborhood if I got into a scuffle with other kids I would always get beaten because of my weak conditioning and thin physical structure."
I would never tell my parents that I got beaten by other kid as that would be a big shame for my family, not because I was from the Machado family with long standing Kalaripayattu and martial arts tradition but as a matter of fact it was discipline. Until the age of six my parents wont allow me to learn Kalaripayattu or any other self-defence sport. I guess they were more interested in putting discipline and moral values in me. However, after the age of six when I started my Kalaripayattu training everything changed for me. As it added to my discipline the confidence, strength and endurance. I hardly got into any fights with other kids at school as I gained moral respect from them. However, my hunger for learning didnt stop there and I continued to educate myself in Yoga, Budokan Karate, Ju-Jitsu, Judo, Silat and everthing else I could in this short life. Today I have carried further my family tradition of Kalaripayattu to Asia, Middle East , Europe and USA.
Apparently, I am not a religious person and therefore, I do not incorporate any religious practices into my teachings and trainings and probably thats the reason many practitioners and masters avoid discussing Kalaripayattu, Yoga or Silat with me. Well I do not care much as I am more interested in spreading this art and keeping the family tradition alive and going and to inspire others.
Probably I will always be grateful to my grandfather Guru Henry Machado to impart so many teachings and secret knowledge of Kalari trainings. From the age of six to eighteen all the time spent with him every year for three months on the jungle mountains of Chikmangalur learning and developing myself.
I want to thank 10th Dan Sensei Taher Boradawalla and his son 5th Dan Zohar Boradawalla for teaching me Budokan Karate, Ju-Jitsu and Judo and making me their best students ever. ( These were Sensei's words ).
I want to thank Guru Pathare , former President of Indian Body Building Association for the Body Building training and its mechanics.
I want to thank Asian Boxing Champion and master Percy Irani for fine tuning my punching skills and teaching me all boxing drills.
I want to thank Shri .K . Narayanan Gurukkal founder of CVN Kalari Sangam for teaching me the training me and inspecting me skills in Kalaripayattu, Marma Chiktsa and Ayurveda in the early 1980's.
My Style and form of Training
My trainings are from basic levels to advanced till the professional levels which incorporate the combination of Kalaripayattu, Yoga, Flow Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Pencak Silat, Harimau Silat and Hanuman. I also incorporate some Budokan, Boxing and Wrestling drills. Strength and conditioning of Kenpo and Ju-Jitsu ending with Pranayama and meditation.
For more information write to me or join my class or my other centres in India, Israel, Dubai, USA or Philippines.
Qualifications
( Some interesting information about Kalari-Yoga below )
KALARI YOGA
Kalari Yoga is a mystical tantric form of Yoga which evolved from Vadakkan Sampradayam (Northern Style Kalarippayat) and cannot be seperated from Kalarippayat. According to legend its purpose in the practice was to combine the advantages of Hatha Yoga with those of Kalarippayat to enhance the physical and spiritual growth of the Kalari-warriors of medieval Kerala.
THE REDISCOVERY OF AN ANCIENT ART
Even though Kalari Yoga is traditionally part of Vadakkan Sampradayam it was considered lost. In fact, few Gurukkal even knew about it and the few remaining scriptures remained unitelligible without a living master's guidance. C.M. Sherif Gurukkal had been knowing about Kalari Yoga for a long time. His interest in the art and the hope for its revival was rekindled by a trip to central Kerala, where Kalari Yoga has indeed managed to survive the millennia in remote hidden areas.
KALARI YOGA VANNAKKAM
Intrigued by this encounter C.M. Sherif Gurukkal closely examined old palmleaf manuscripts from the archives of the academy, which contained allusions and references to the practice, its secrets, postures and sequences. With the help of a monk whose northern Indian order safeguards a similar tradition C.M. Sherif was able to decrypt the ancient palmleaves and bring powerful practices like the Kalari Yoga Vanakkam, the Surya Namaskara in the Kalari Yoga tradition, back out of the mists of time. C.M Sherif collects and researches the fragmented and obscure tradition of Kalari Yoga eversince and the journey has just begun.
DIFERENCES TO (HATHA) YOGA
The main difference between Kalari Yoga and other traditions is the focus of the practicioner, which is directed into the outer reality with open eyes and a wide field of vision. The underlying concept is called "when the body becomes all eyes" and is practiced in the same way in Kalarippayat. Interestingly enough, focusing a single point in the outer world produces results not unlike the practice of Pratyahara and beyond within the classical eightfold path of Ashtanga Yoga as laid out by the sage-saint Patanjali. Kalari and Yoga are like two sides of the very same coin and as C.M. Sherif says: "In the heart, Kalari is Yoga."
ANIMAL POSTURES
The heart of the practice are the so called "Animal-Postures". 18 have been handed down of which 14 are still actually practiced today. The most important postures are:
Gaja Vadivu (Elephant Posture) – Power, Groundedness, Stability
Ashva Vadivu (Horse Posture) – Forward Energy, Intention, Extension
Simha Vadivu (Lion Posture) – Readiness, Speed, Grandeur
Matsya Vadivu (Fish Posture) - Ability to Jump, Lightness, Forward Flow
Majura Vadivu (Peacock Postures) – Flee-footedness, Speed, Peripheral Vision
Vahara Vadivu (Wild Boar Posture) - Perseverence, Assertiveness, Punch
Marjara Vadivu (Cat Posture) – Sublimeness, Calmness, Suppleness
EMBODYING THE ANIMAL SPIRIT
Animal-Postures are powerful phyco-physical exercises strongly influenced by the shamanistic heritage of the indigenous Dravidian culture of Southern India. In these postures the practicioner learns how to internalize specific attributes and energies of the given animal spirit. At the same time specific physical traits are enhanced, e.g. hip-opening in Simha Vadivu and strenghtening and stretching of the back in Gaja Vadivu. The postures are much more about finding the right postures to create the proper energetical enviorenment, rather than just physically stretching as much as possible. "Simpel", but powerful.
FORMS AND MOVEMENT
Kalari Yoga is not static. The way into the posture is just as important as the posture itself and some postures are actually only done in movement. At a later stage, postures are also intertwined with different turns and Leg-Swings in which the practicioner learns to momentarily surrender focus, just to powerfully regain it in the next posture. The practicioner learns to the "rider", not the "horse" of these states. In addition to the postures, a powerful form known as "Kalari Yoga Vandanam" is practiced. This form is an adaption of the "Kalari Vandanam" and requires power as well as grace and flow which is adjourned by short phases of open eyed meditation. This form in its grace and seeming simplicity is a powerful tool for the Abhyasis developement and foundation of the practice.
THE BODY AS MUDRA
Another fascinating aspect of Kalari Yoga are the Mudras, commonly describing the posture of hands and fingers in classical Yoga. However, in Kalari Mudras are done with the whole body and are not static. This results in complex, and energetically very potent exercises, which require the power and routine of accomplished Abyasis.
Source - Kalari Sangha
http://www.kalarisangha.net/2008/03/kalari-yoga.html ( Website link )
"As a kid I was always fascinated with Bruce Lee, Mohammed Ali and Rocky movies, but at school and in the neighborhood if I got into a scuffle with other kids I would always get beaten because of my weak conditioning and thin physical structure."
I would never tell my parents that I got beaten by other kid as that would be a big shame for my family, not because I was from the Machado family with long standing Kalaripayattu and martial arts tradition but as a matter of fact it was discipline. Until the age of six my parents wont allow me to learn Kalaripayattu or any other self-defence sport. I guess they were more interested in putting discipline and moral values in me. However, after the age of six when I started my Kalaripayattu training everything changed for me. As it added to my discipline the confidence, strength and endurance. I hardly got into any fights with other kids at school as I gained moral respect from them. However, my hunger for learning didnt stop there and I continued to educate myself in Yoga, Budokan Karate, Ju-Jitsu, Judo, Silat and everthing else I could in this short life. Today I have carried further my family tradition of Kalaripayattu to Asia, Middle East , Europe and USA.
Apparently, I am not a religious person and therefore, I do not incorporate any religious practices into my teachings and trainings and probably thats the reason many practitioners and masters avoid discussing Kalaripayattu, Yoga or Silat with me. Well I do not care much as I am more interested in spreading this art and keeping the family tradition alive and going and to inspire others.
Probably I will always be grateful to my grandfather Guru Henry Machado to impart so many teachings and secret knowledge of Kalari trainings. From the age of six to eighteen all the time spent with him every year for three months on the jungle mountains of Chikmangalur learning and developing myself.
I want to thank 10th Dan Sensei Taher Boradawalla and his son 5th Dan Zohar Boradawalla for teaching me Budokan Karate, Ju-Jitsu and Judo and making me their best students ever. ( These were Sensei's words ).
I want to thank Guru Pathare , former President of Indian Body Building Association for the Body Building training and its mechanics.
I want to thank Asian Boxing Champion and master Percy Irani for fine tuning my punching skills and teaching me all boxing drills.
I want to thank Shri .K . Narayanan Gurukkal founder of CVN Kalari Sangam for teaching me the training me and inspecting me skills in Kalaripayattu, Marma Chiktsa and Ayurveda in the early 1980's.
My Style and form of Training
My trainings are from basic levels to advanced till the professional levels which incorporate the combination of Kalaripayattu, Yoga, Flow Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Pencak Silat, Harimau Silat and Hanuman. I also incorporate some Budokan, Boxing and Wrestling drills. Strength and conditioning of Kenpo and Ju-Jitsu ending with Pranayama and meditation.
For more information write to me or join my class or my other centres in India, Israel, Dubai, USA or Philippines.
Qualifications
Black Belt
in Budokan Karate, Judo & Ju-Jitsu from Central Railway Institute, Parel, Mumbai
400012, India
Trained
under Master Taher Barodawalla 10th Dan & Master Zohair Barodawalla 5th Dan (1980-1988 )
( All India Karate do Federation official Dan grade )
International Kenpo Karate Association 1st Degree Black belt ( 1996 )
1st
level boxing at Central Railway Institute,Parel, Mumbai 400012, India
Trained
under Master Percy Irani.( 1984 )
Martial
Arts Strength & conditioning coach certification from American Sports &
Fitness Association.( 2012-2013 )
Regional Director for ISU ( International Streetfighting Union ) ( 2013)
Member for Poland and India for ISDO ( International Self-Defence Organisation , Greece)
Affliate with NESTA ( Natioinal Exercise & Sports Trainers Association , USA ) 2012, 2013-2014
Founder of Bollywood-Robixz™ ( Exclusive trademark dance fitness program and ownership )
Degree in
Yoga Therapy Teacher from Jadavpur University, India.( 1990 )
Trained in Kalaripayattu under Guru Henry Machado and Shri. K. Narayanan Gurukkal. ( 1980's)
Kalari-Yoga
& Meditation Diploma from Shri. Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi.( 1992 )
Diploma
Power Yoga Teacher from Shri Shanmukananda Academy of Physical Education &
Yoga.( 1989 )
Diploma in
Sidha Yoga from Shree Gurudev Ashram, India.( 1989 )
Personal Trainer Certificate from Premier Training International ( 2009 )
Stott Pilates Certified Instructor ( 2005 )
Yoga Alliance International , Master Yoga & Meditation Teacher ( 2011 )
Yogacharya (
Teacher of Yoga ) Shri Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center ( 2001 )
Trained under Guru Pathare President of All India Bodybuilding Federation ( 1984 to 1995 ).
Trainer for Khalid Bamas Asian wrestling Gold medalist.
Former Anti-theft committee member on Dubai Police Department.
Direct lineage from the Machado family of Kalari-Yoga tradition and practitioner Kalari.
22 years in Security, Self-Defence & Fitness.
( Some interesting information about Kalari-Yoga below )
KALARI YOGA
Kalari Yoga is a mystical tantric form of Yoga which evolved from Vadakkan Sampradayam (Northern Style Kalarippayat) and cannot be seperated from Kalarippayat. According to legend its purpose in the practice was to combine the advantages of Hatha Yoga with those of Kalarippayat to enhance the physical and spiritual growth of the Kalari-warriors of medieval Kerala.
THE REDISCOVERY OF AN ANCIENT ART
Even though Kalari Yoga is traditionally part of Vadakkan Sampradayam it was considered lost. In fact, few Gurukkal even knew about it and the few remaining scriptures remained unitelligible without a living master's guidance. C.M. Sherif Gurukkal had been knowing about Kalari Yoga for a long time. His interest in the art and the hope for its revival was rekindled by a trip to central Kerala, where Kalari Yoga has indeed managed to survive the millennia in remote hidden areas.
KALARI YOGA VANNAKKAM
Intrigued by this encounter C.M. Sherif Gurukkal closely examined old palmleaf manuscripts from the archives of the academy, which contained allusions and references to the practice, its secrets, postures and sequences. With the help of a monk whose northern Indian order safeguards a similar tradition C.M. Sherif was able to decrypt the ancient palmleaves and bring powerful practices like the Kalari Yoga Vanakkam, the Surya Namaskara in the Kalari Yoga tradition, back out of the mists of time. C.M Sherif collects and researches the fragmented and obscure tradition of Kalari Yoga eversince and the journey has just begun.
DIFERENCES TO (HATHA) YOGA
The main difference between Kalari Yoga and other traditions is the focus of the practicioner, which is directed into the outer reality with open eyes and a wide field of vision. The underlying concept is called "when the body becomes all eyes" and is practiced in the same way in Kalarippayat. Interestingly enough, focusing a single point in the outer world produces results not unlike the practice of Pratyahara and beyond within the classical eightfold path of Ashtanga Yoga as laid out by the sage-saint Patanjali. Kalari and Yoga are like two sides of the very same coin and as C.M. Sherif says: "In the heart, Kalari is Yoga."
ANIMAL POSTURES
The heart of the practice are the so called "Animal-Postures". 18 have been handed down of which 14 are still actually practiced today. The most important postures are:
Gaja Vadivu (Elephant Posture) – Power, Groundedness, Stability
Ashva Vadivu (Horse Posture) – Forward Energy, Intention, Extension
Simha Vadivu (Lion Posture) – Readiness, Speed, Grandeur
Matsya Vadivu (Fish Posture) - Ability to Jump, Lightness, Forward Flow
Majura Vadivu (Peacock Postures) – Flee-footedness, Speed, Peripheral Vision
Vahara Vadivu (Wild Boar Posture) - Perseverence, Assertiveness, Punch
Marjara Vadivu (Cat Posture) – Sublimeness, Calmness, Suppleness
EMBODYING THE ANIMAL SPIRIT
Animal-Postures are powerful phyco-physical exercises strongly influenced by the shamanistic heritage of the indigenous Dravidian culture of Southern India. In these postures the practicioner learns how to internalize specific attributes and energies of the given animal spirit. At the same time specific physical traits are enhanced, e.g. hip-opening in Simha Vadivu and strenghtening and stretching of the back in Gaja Vadivu. The postures are much more about finding the right postures to create the proper energetical enviorenment, rather than just physically stretching as much as possible. "Simpel", but powerful.
FORMS AND MOVEMENT
Kalari Yoga is not static. The way into the posture is just as important as the posture itself and some postures are actually only done in movement. At a later stage, postures are also intertwined with different turns and Leg-Swings in which the practicioner learns to momentarily surrender focus, just to powerfully regain it in the next posture. The practicioner learns to the "rider", not the "horse" of these states. In addition to the postures, a powerful form known as "Kalari Yoga Vandanam" is practiced. This form is an adaption of the "Kalari Vandanam" and requires power as well as grace and flow which is adjourned by short phases of open eyed meditation. This form in its grace and seeming simplicity is a powerful tool for the Abhyasis developement and foundation of the practice.
THE BODY AS MUDRA
Another fascinating aspect of Kalari Yoga are the Mudras, commonly describing the posture of hands and fingers in classical Yoga. However, in Kalari Mudras are done with the whole body and are not static. This results in complex, and energetically very potent exercises, which require the power and routine of accomplished Abyasis.
Source - Kalari Sangha
http://www.kalarisangha.net/2008/03/kalari-yoga.html ( Website link )
