Kuttu varisai (Tamil: குத்துவரிசை) is the unarmed component of silambam (Tamil: சிலம்பாட்டம்) and Varma Kalai (Tamil: வர்மக்கலை), a Dravidian martial art from Tamil Nadu in south India but also practiced by the Tamil people of Malaysia and northeast Sri Lanka. The term kuttu varisai means empty hand combat in Tamil and was first documented in Sangam literature of the 2nd-1st centuries BC. It is also called kai silambam which means hand silambam.
The meaning of Kuttu Varisai is divided into two words. 'Kuttu' means punch (Tamil Dictionary translation: கை முட்டியால் தாக்குதல்) or hit and 'Varisai' means sequence or order. The words itself says using the punches in sequential order. Techniques incorporate striking, grappling, throws and locks. Strikes make use of almost every part of the body such as the fists, elbows, feet, knees, etc. Like many other Asian martial arts, patterns in kuttu varisai make use of animal-based sets including the tiger, snake, elephant, eagle and monkey forms. Advanced students are taught the art of pressure point fighting called varma kalai.
Kaaladi, or footwork patterns, are a fundamental aspect of both kuttu varisai and silambam. There are sixteen of them among which four are very important. Traditionally, beginners practice only kaaladi for many months before learning any techniques but this is not often done today. Training in kuttu varisai allows the practitioner to get a feel of silambam stick movements using their bare hands, that is, fighters have a preliminary training with bare hands before going to the stick.
Gradually, fighters study footwork to move precisely in conjunction with the stick movements. The ultimate goal of the training is to defend against multiple armed opponents. In both kuthu varisai and silambam, kaaladi is the key in deriving power for the blows. It teaches how to advance and retreat, to get in range of the opponent without lowering one's defence, aids in hitting and blocking, and it strengthens the body immensely enabling the person to receive non-lethal blows and still continue the battle. The whole body is used to create power. In Kuttu Varisai, gymnastic, stretching (yoga), and breathing exercises are conducted before training.It is also said that Bodhidharma (the founder of ZEN buddhism) was very good at this art. And on his travelling way towards Nepal, Tibet and China he observed fights between monkeys, snakes and other animals. Than he implemented this to kuttu varisai and gave a start to the Chinese Martial Art which we now call as "Kung Fu". Kuttu Varisai is one of the ancient arts of India which is dying.