The star of one of the recent viral posts on Facebook is 76-year-old Meenakshiamma from Vatakara, Kerala.
She teaches the ancient Indian martial art form Kalaripayattu. In the video, she takes on a man half her age, with no signs of slowing down. Using both offensive and defensive tactics, she tackles him brilliantly. Watch the video here.
According to a report, Meenakshi Gurukkal — as female teachers are addressed in Malayalam — has been involved with Kalaripayattu for the past 66 years at Kadathanadan Kalari Sangam.
She has been resonsible for training hundreds of students, many of whom are now teachers themselves. Kalaripayattu is a demanding exercise and requires utmost devotion, discipline and commitment.
It also explains her fitness, flexibility and strength at her age. Meenakshiamma is humble about her skills and has vowed to practise Kalaripayattu — which she considers her true calling in life — for as long as he can.
