Adimurai is a martial art originating in Tamilakam. It was traditionally practiced in erstwhile Travancore and in Kanyakumari district. Its preliminary empty-hand techniques are called Adithada and application of vital points are called VarmaAdi, although these terms are sometimes interchangeably used to refer to the martial art itself. Adimurai is a portmanteau in the Tamil language where adi means “to hit or strike” and murai means method or procedure. This ancient fighting style is mentioned in Tamil Sangam literature 400 BCE. In modern period it is used with armed art of Tamil. The art focuses on self-defense. The focus of all assaults, kicks, and locks is on the vital Varma points.

This art, which includes a lethal pressure point strike component (Varma Adi), has been maintained as a well-guarded secret by its practitioners and is only taught to a select few.

Silambam (as an armed fighting art utilized on the battlefield) and Adithadi (as a combat sport component of Adi Murai) peaked under the Chola and Pandya empires, with silambam as an armed combat art and Adithadi and malyutham as combat sports.