HISTORY OF KABADDI

The game of Kabbadi is one of the oldest games of Indian

origin.
While some believe that the sport has a history dating to
pre-historic times and was probably invented to ward off
group attacks, many believe that the game has its beginning
some 5, years ago
during the Kurukshetra
War.
The ancient Indian
epic !ahabharata
describes the battle
between the "andavas
and the #auravas and
how $bimanyu managed
to penetrate the
#auravas seven tiered
defense, but died
because he did not
know the way out.
%egend has it that as an unborn child in his mother&s womb,
$bhimanyu learned the knowledge of entering the deadly and
virtually impenetrable the seven tiered defense called
#hakravyuha.
It is said that %ord Krishna tutored $bhimanyu's father
$r(una the techni)ue of attacking and escaping from various
army formations.
*owever, it is said that $bimanyu's
mother +ubadhra ,evi decided to
retire when %ord Krishna was
e-planing the method of escaping from
the #hakravyuha. Thus $bhimanyu never
got the chance to learn on how to
escape the #hakravyuha.
.n the /0
th
day of the Kurukshetra
War, the courageous dashing $bhimanyu, was called upon to
break through the #hakravyuha formed by the #auravas.
The si-teen year old gallantly broke through the formation
but after a fierce battle was killed by his enemies.
It is believed that the sport of kabaddi was created in
remembrance of $bhimanyu the Warrior.
Kabaddi 1sometimes written Kabbadi or Kabadi2is a team sport
that sees two teams occupy opposite halves of a field and
take turns sending a 3raider3 into the other half, in order
to win points by tagging or wrestling members of the
opposing team4 the raider then tries to return to his own
half, holding his breath during the whole raid.

It re)uires both skill and power and combines the
characteristics of wrestling and rugby.
It is believed that Kabaddi was invented to develop a
defensive responses by an individual against group attacks
and group&s responses to an individual attack.
This is the only combative sport in which offence is an
individual effort whereas defense is a group effort.
*istory reveals that kabaddi was played
by princes of the past to display their
strength. 5uddhist literature also
mentions of 6autama 5uddha playing
kabaddi with his peers.
The game, known as *u-Tu-Tu in Western
India, *a-,o-,o in 7astern India and
5angladesh, #hedugudu in +outhern India
and Kaunbada in 8orthern India, has
changed through the ages.
!odern Kabaddi is a synthesis of the
game played in various forms under
different names.
The e-citement and thrill provided by the game has made it
very popular and is rightly called the 6ame of the !asses.
!illions of people from as many as 95 countries of the world
play this game in its various forms.
The game in most popular and played in India, 8epal,
"akistan, 5angladesh, :apan, +ri %anka, Thailand, !alaysia,
Iran, Korea, $rgentina, #anada, ;.K, Italy, #hina, Trinidad
and Tobago, $ustralia and many more countries.
Kabaddi is played in three styles < 8ational +tyle Kabaddi,
5each Kabaddi and #ircle Kabaddi.
The 8ational +tyle Kabaddi was introduced as
a medal sport at the 5ei(ing $siad in /==.
The #ircle +tyle Kabaddi was a demonstration
sport at the /=09 5erlin .lympics. The
demonstration was made possible by the
*anuman >yayam "rasarak !andal, $maravati,
!aharashtra.
5each Kabaddi was included at the 5ali $sian Indoor 6ames in
?@.
Kabaddi's inclusion at the .lympics would depend on the
growth of the game in the coming years. The International
.lympic #ommittee 1I.#2 has also assured the World Kabaddi
Aederation that the recognition of the sport would be
possible upon having a minimum of 5 affiliated 8ational
Aederations.
The three styles of kabaddi are also played in three
different formats.
In the $mar format of Kabaddi, there is no out or revival
rule. When any player is touched, goes out of bounds or is
caught, he is not sent out of the court but point is awarded
to the rival team.
In the +ur(aveeni format, the revival and our rule is in
play. When any player is touched or goes out of bounds, or
is caught, the player concerned is sent out of court. "oints
are awarded to the rival team in addition to having their
out players being revived.
In the 6aminee format, a player touched, caught or out of
bounds, has to remain out until all his team members are
out.
The team that is successful in putting out all the players
of the opponent&s side secures a point.
$fter all the players are put out, the team is revived and
the game continues.
Kabaddi is gaining popularity in many parts of the world,
because apart from being a competitive sport, it is also a
simple and ine-pensive game.
While the game strived on being played outdoors,
international competitions are now played on approved 7>$
Aoam !ats.
"laying on mat and on traditional clay courts have their own
benefits. While playing on clay re)uired skills like
sliding, playing on mat has made it more dramatic.
,espite the differences, kabaddi calls for tremendous
fitness of body and mind and the ability to concentrate as
well as anticipate the opponent&s moves.
The 6ame demands agility, muscular co-ordination, breath
holding capacity, speed, strength, stamina, catching,
kicking, as well as )uick responses and a great deal of
presence of mind.