COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, WORLD NEWS: And finally, ask people about martial arts, and they're likely to mention karate or kung fu. Other disciplines in countries other than Japan or China rarely get much attention. So CNN's Ram Ramgopal introduces us to a man teaching the martial arts in India.</s>RAM RAMGOPAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At a school in the southern Indian state of Kerala, a traditional martial art is passed down by an unassuming master. Kumaran Ashan is 103 years old. He continues to teach Kalari Payattu, which combines both physical and spiritual discipline. Based on the ancient Indian science of warfare, it is claimed to be one of the world's oldest martial arts forms. Students find it takes many years to learn the intricacies of Kalari Payattu. The training regimen is strict and physically severe and involves exercises with swords and shields. Ashan says the art favors self-defense over attacking skills.</s>KUMARAN ASHAN, LAKARI PAYATTU INSTRUCTOR (through translator): This martial art is not used to fight or kill anybody. It is to find a cure to diseases by having control over the five elements which constitute the human body - fire, earth, water, air and sky. This is what has to be learned through this yoga for a long and healthy life.</s>RAMGOPAL: Legend has it that a Hindu warrior sage created the land of Kerala by retrieving the land from the Arabian Sea. He is said to have then trained one of his disciplines in Kalari Payattu to protect the land and maintain peace. Ashan says he learned the art from his father and now he's returning the favor by handing down the tradition himself to his very own band of loyal followers. Ram Ramgopal, CNN.
Indian Martial Arts Master Passes Along Tradition of Kalari  Payattu