About Krishnaprathap

Krishna Prathap began his training in kalaripayattu at a tender age of six. His first rigorous training was under the guidance of his father Sri Karthikeyan Gurukkal. Later he trained with Gurus Sri Shankara Narayana Menon ( Unni Gurukkal) and also under the present Gurukkal S.N.G.S at Vallabhatta kalari at chavakkad in Thrissur. Krishna Prathap belongs to the second generation of Kalaripayattu and has more than 25 years of experience in the field. He displayed his skills by participating in the 1995 Asian federation games held in Madras and at the National integration Martial Festival held in Calicut. He has to his credit several medals and awards. The most prestigious one being the Kerala State championships Gold Medal in Kalaripayattu North style. He won the state champion in Kerala five times. He holds several positions of high repute including the Karnataka Kalaripayattu Association Secretary General and Martial Arts Games Federation of India (Unifying Martial Arts games across the Indian sub-continent) Hon. Treasurer’s post. He is also the Martial Art National Coach for the Indian Federation of Pankration Athlima (Greece Martial Arts). Krishna Prathap has won himself a special place of honour in the field of Kalaripayattu - not only in Kerala but throughout the country. He has contributed to popularizing the art form internationally by performing and scripting kalaripayattu in France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Italy, London, USA, Singapore, Middle East and Sri Lanka which has won him great appreciation from various organizations and the media.

Kishna Prathap is now bringing out a new grammar in the field of dance by choreographing Kalaripayattu to the melody of music by associating himself with experts in
Kathakali, Mohiniyattom, Bharatha Nattyam, Kuchipudi and Kathak. He is presently working with Smt. Rashme Hegde Gopi, a quintessential dancer with the sensibilities of a time artist. Dance for her is the distillation of life – a means to spiritual communication and a journey into the depth of womanhood. When she dons the robes of a dancer, one observes not just technical finesse but the dynamics of an awakened spirit. Krishna Prathap is working with Smt.Rashme Gopi Hegde renowned chorographer for the past 13 years.
Krishna Prathap is deeply motivated to popularizing Kalaripayattu as an art for and takes great interest in training students. With the backing of his institution VallabhattaKalari chavakkad in Kerala, Krishna Prathap along with his institution trained more than 200 School children to perform at the Republic day parade in New Delhi. He has been associated with Shankara foundation as a Kalari teacher for the last 5 years.