At 76, She Has Kalaripayattu Skills That Will Take Your Breath Away

Meenakshiamma lives in Vatakara, Kerala but many folks across the country know her name by now. At 76, she is an exponent and teacher of Kalariapayattu, the ancient Indian martial art form that uses sticks, swords, shields and daggers, and a video featuring Meenakshiamma's incredible skills has gone viral.

Posted on a Facebook page titled India Arising on June 16, the video has been watched almost 9 lakh times.

The short clip shows Meenakshiamma, sari pallu tucked into the waist, wielding a stick with breathtaking precision against a man who is presumably much younger and also her student. Around them, an audience cheers, whistles and claps.

Kalaripayattu, indigenous to Kerala, is one of the oldest known fighting systems in the world, as well as one of the most intricate.

Watch Meenakshiamma's amazing performance below: