Choosing the right batch for your child

Parents often ask which batch their child should join. The short answer is that most children start in our juniors’ batch on weekends. But children differ a great deal between seven and sixteen, and the right choice depends on more than age.

The juniors’ batch meets on Saturday and Sunday from 7 to 8.30 am, in groups of 12 with two teachers. It covers meythari, simple stick drills and the discipline of the kalari, and costs ₹1,500 a month. For most children aged seven to twelve, two sessions a week is plenty, and it does not clash with school or tuition.

Older children, from about thirteen, sometimes find the juniors’ batch too slow, especially if they play another sport. After six months with us, the gurukkal may suggest that a teenager joins one weekday morning in the adult foundation batch as well. This is his decision, based on attention and attitude in class as much as strength.

Temperament matters too. A very energetic child often settles well in kalaripayattu, where every session begins slowly and builds. A shy child may find silambam easier at first, because the staff gives the hands something to do and the footwork is learned in a pattern. Children can try both in their free trial week. Whatever the batch, we ask parents for two things: that the child comes regularly for at least three months before deciding whether they like it, and that school always comes first. During exams, a child can pause training without losing their place.