Any person can start learning kalaripayatt from the age of 4. Regular practice keeps the student to be flexible and easy to learn. Today you can find two ways of kalaripayatt practises 1. Vadakkan sampradayam(Northern Style)and Thekkan sampradayam(Southern Style). Both styles consists of Adavu or chuvadu (can be called as techiniques, or stages or steps) and will the tought with vaaythaari (commands) by the teacher, also the teacher will be knowing treatments with herbs for the injuries, also massages and identification of diseases. 

VADAKKAN SAMPRADAYAM OR NORTHERN STYLE
The Vadakkan Shaily or Northern Style of Kalaripayattu is mainly based on the flexible body movements. It allows the body to move freely in any angle. Hence with regular practice one can perfect the body. Because of the flexibility it has, it is used in the various arts like Kathakali, Ottam Thullal, Krishnanatam, etc. Therefore this art is very popular among different artists.

Starts by rituals as said by the teacher then the syllabus starts with prayer followed by
The syllabus of NORTHERN style can be classified into two groups:

 
1. The first one is body exercises which consisting of body movements like

 
(a)  KALARI VANAKKAM (It is the Salutation or Respect for KALARI with the body movements)
(b)  POOTHARA VANAKKAM (It is another salutation for the assumed gods of KALARI)
(c)  KAALUGAL (Raising of Legs in different angles to make them flexible)
(d)  KAIKUTHI PAYATT (It is the exercise body which gives strength with flexibility )               
(e)  MAIPAYATT (It is the exercise concerning only to body flexibility,balance and also helps for perfect landing)
(f)  CHUMATTADI ( It is the exercise for the fast movement to all direction)

2. The second part is called as the combat training which includes

(I) VERUM KAI PRAYOGAM OR ADI-THADA (Bare hand combat system)
(II) WOODEN WEAPON TRAINING SYSTEM
(III) METAL WEAPONS TRAINING SYSTEM

1. VERUM KAI PRAYOGAM OR ADI-THADA :   It is the system of learning the bare hand combat about how to self defend without any weapons. By regular practice it converts our hands and legs to become strong and also develops reflex action which makes fast in movements.

 

2. WOODEN WEAPONS TRAINING :    In wooden weapons we have some differently carved sticks for the training of the combat
(a). MUCHAN or KURUVADI or CHERIAVADI : It is a short stick which is nearly 60 cm long with a straight look is used for the practice of combat with it we can attain the speed of nearly 300 hits/min if you are a good practioner
(b). KETTUKARI or VELIAVADI: It is a long stick which is a bamboo and will be nearly 170 cm in length with a straight look is also used for the combat where you can attain the speed of 120hits/min with the opponent
(c). OTTA : It is also the short stick which is nearly 75 cm in length with a curved shape. Its attack is mainly based on the marma points of the body.
(d). GADA : It is also called mace which will be nearly 90 cm long, with top rounded and with the handle
(e). BOW & ARROW : It is only used in some of the Kalari school now its use is not much known.

3. METAL WEAPONS TRAINING :   Metal weapons are of various kinds.
(a). KATHI : is a ordinary knife. It is used for self defence as well as for attack.
(b). KADAARA : is a metal weapon. It is 23 cm long, has a slightly curved shape and is used in the combat.
(c). SWORD & SHEILD : the sword is nearly 90cm long and the shield is 43 cm in diameter. It is interesting weapon in combat.
(d). SPEAR : The sharp edge with the wooden handle or metal handle is totally 185 cm
 (e). UDAVAL : is a double-edged sword.
(F). URUMI : is the metal weapon which is very flexible and can be folded. It is a very dangerous weapon with the length of 195 cm

THEKKAN SAMPRADAYAM OR SOUTHERN STYLE
Southern style of Kalaripayatt is popular in southern part of Kerala. It combines various techniques and methods. The practice does not include body flexibility and anyone can do those easily at any age. It is also very easy to apply as self-defence.
 
1. CHUVADU: Steps, it contains three kinds of steps
(a)    OTTA    CHUVADU
(b)   VATTA CHUVADU
(c)    ANGA   CHUVADU
2.  KAIPORU :  Bare hand combat
3.  POOTUM PIRIVUM :  Locks and Unlocks
4.  KURUVADI :  Small stick combat
5.  VELIAVADI : Big stick combat
6.  KATHI :  Knife combat
7.  KADARA : Knife combat
8.  VALUM PARIJA :  Sword and Shield combat
9.  CHAYKATHI :   Heavy knife combat
10. URUMI :  FLEXIBLE SWORD  combat etc...