The Kadtaram is a martial bladed weapon from the Malayalam martial system of Kalarippayattu!  This system is a very ancient system that its practitioner’s believe was the precursor to the Chinese system utilized by the Shaolin Monks.  I must say that there are similarities.  The Kadtaram is a formidable ancient push dagger design that is a precursor to modern day push daggers.

The Malayalam blade is more distinguished by being curvy whereas the north blade typically is not.  I have however seen a straight bladed one in a Kalari in Southern India.

I was fortunate enough to study some Kadtaram work from a Kalarippayattu Gurukal when in India.  We only worked on practical appliations as that was all the time I could allot and he helped me to understand their movements.  Push Daggers are undisputebly one of the most dangerous bladed tools out there and hence why they are illegal to carry almost everywhere in the United States.  What makes them so dangerous is that if you can throw a punch you can use one pretty effectively.  However, what really makes them dangerous is that they are simply hard to get out of the hand of an opponent!

Here is a clip of to Kalarippayattu practitioners with the Kadtaram:  Enjoy

Modern Day Push Dagger

If you are interested in the Push Dagger we have a DVD located here at our store:

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Brian R. VanCise

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