The southern kerala style kalaripayattu was practiced mainly in old travancore including the present Kaniyakumari district of Tamil nadu , mainly practiced by Nadars& Ezhavas in kerala. It emphasis empty hand techiniques and the masters are known as Asaan.

The southern kalaripayattu techiniques are Varma ati [ the law of hitting] , marma adi [ hitting the vital points] or varma kalai [ art of varma].The empty handed techniques of varma adi are known as Adithada[ hit / defend].Weapons include bamboo staves, short sticks & double deer horns.

In this style the patron saint of kalaripayattu is the sage Agastya whose strength and power of meditation are legendary.In this style more emphasis on foor work, movement and the ability to strike at vital points ar marmmas in the opponents body of which 108 points are considered lethally vulnerable.