Silambam Nilaikalakki

America:
Devin Wilkey
amadoblan@hotmail.com

Asia:
Master R. Anbananthan
pensilam@hotmail.com

Europe:
Denis Brunet
http://www.silambam.com
Please visit his website - all videos refer on it. This is a great intro in long stick teaching. And Geneve in Switzerland isn't very far.

Basic exercices

Spinning techniques are the very first exercices. They have to be repeated a lot, both to achieve technical perfection but also to strengthen the body.

This one is spinning from below, indicating the resulting strike would be given from below.



And this one is spinning on top, for the same reason.



Finally, the third exercice combines the two previous ones, therefore spinning in both directions.



Predefined sequences

Here is an excerpt of a pattern, or a predefined sequence of techniques. They reuse some of the basic techniques, and introduce some new ones. They are the source of infinite findings when thoroughly repeated. There are two series of patterns, of respectively 7 and 10 patterns.



Free sequences

Later on, it is required to freely chain the learned techniques into a free flow of techniques. This increases proficiency and memory.
Also, they can be played in different modes, meant for different purposes. The three shown here are on the flowing mode.



Girls are also very proficient in Silambam, just see how.



And some advanced students are both fast and accurate.



Footworks

Actually, this style has a LOT of different footworks to be mastered, and this feature seems to be very specific to it.
Here are shown some kind of a free flow of footworks, taken from series of predefined ones (not shown here). It is important here to correctly synchronize the footwork and the stick work.



Sparring

You may have noticed that the training has been done alone so far. This will take some years for the student until he/she will handle more or less correctly the stick. Then only they can gradually do some sparring, slowly and friendly at first, then faster and stronger.

This video shows free flows of hits and blocks, given alternatively by the two exponents.



This one is a bit less flowing, and a little more on the strike side. Roles are not predefined and easily change between attacker and defender.



other silambam school:

Spinning exercices, maybe a pattern, in solo.



Footworks, in solo.



Free sparring with partner.



Variations on hits and blocks, with a partner.



Defending with Madus (or Deerhorns), with a partner.