Japanese Master, Kerala Guru: Keeping Kalaripayattu’s Spirit Alive

Japanese grandmaster Masanobu Sato, 74, travels to Kerala to learn the fading martial art of Kalaripayattu from Akhil Achuthan. Despite his Karate mastery, Sato trains with humility in the rare Vattayanthirippu style. Together, Sato and Akhil keep this ancient tradition alive, preserving a legacy at risk of disappearing even in its homeland.