Marmam

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Marmam are pressure points of the human body in Indian martial arts in general and Dravidian martial arts in particular. It is claimed that learned persons can disable or kill their opponents by a mere touch in a Marmam.

Practitioners of Kalarippayattu an Indian martial art in Kerala learn about Marmams" which is also used for marma treatment. It is as sophisticated as theuzhichil treatment of Ayurveda. This system of marma treatment comes under Sidha Vaidhyam, whose origin is attributed to Sage Agasthya and his disciples.

The earliest evidence of the concept of vital pressure points also dates back to the Rig Veda where Indra is recorded to have defeated Vritra by attacking his vital pressure points (marman) with his vajra.^[1] References are also found in the Atharva Veda.^[2] With numerous other scattered references to vital points in Vedic and epic sources, it is certain that India's early martial practitioners knew and practiced attacking or defending vital points.^[3] Sushruta (c. 6th century BC) identified and defined 107 vital points of the human body in his Sushruta Samhita.^[4] Of these 107 points, 64 were classified as being lethal if properly struck with a fist or stick.^[5] Sushruta's work formed the basis of the medical discipline Ayurveda, which was taught alongside various Indian martial arts that had an emphasis on vital points, such as Varma Kalai and Marma Adi.^[5]

[edit] Six Categories of Marama Points

Maasa Marma (on the skin/muscles)

Asthi Marma (at bones)

Snayu Marma (at the nerves)

Dhamani Marma (at arteries)

Sandhi Marma (at the joints)

Shira Marma (at the veins)

[edit] Notes

^ Mariana Fedorova (1990). Die Marmantheorie in der klassischen indischen Medizin.
^ Subhash Ranade (1993). Natural Healing Through Ayurveda (p. 161). Passage Press. Utah USA.
^ Zarrilli, Phillip B. A South Indian Martial Art and the Yoga and Ayurvedic Paradigms. University of Wisconsin-Madison.
^ G. D. Singhal, L. V. Guru (1973). Anatomical and Obstetrical Considerations in Ancient Indian Surgery Based on Sarira-Sthana of Susruta Samhita.
^ ^a ^b J. R. Svinth (2002). A Chronological History of the Martial Arts and Combative Sports. Electronic Journals of Martial Arts and Sciences.