Kabbadi
Created | Updated Dec 2, 2004
From a westerners point of view it is a mixture of wrestling, tag, rugby and transcendental meditation brought to the UK by Asians.
It can be played indoors on a pitch the same size as a badminton court (but without the net) or outdoors on a bigger, circular pitch.
In both versions you have two teams. At any point members of one of the teams are "Raiders" while the others are "Defenders."
The Raiders have one person who goes into the other teams half, touches a member of the other team and scampers back into their own half to score a point. Like f*** they do. They scamper into the other half and then the fun starts. The Defenders tend to link arms and form themselves into a semi-circle which pulls away from the raider as s/he approaches at one end while circling round behind them at the other.
If the Raider touches a Defender the object of the Defenders is to stop the Raider returning to their own half. With indoor Kabaddi the whole team can get involved but in outdoor Kabaddi only the person who is touched can stop the raider's return journey.
Let's stick with indoor Kabaddi for now. There is a time limit for a raid but it is not set by the unpire or referee. It is the amount of time it takes the Raider to use up one breath. To show everyone that a second breath is not being taken the raider chants "Kabaddi, Kabbadi, Kabaddi..." over and over again. If they stop they have to end the raid and lose a point - the same goes if they lose the chant (like when someone is sitting on their head).
In the outdoor version you know that the person you touch is the only one who can chase you - so you have to decide between the lumbering oaf who will tear you limb from limb if they catch you or the skinny whippet who will definitely catch you but you may be able to swat like a fly. In the outdoor version the umpire sets the time limit for the raid (30 seconds I think) and keeps an eye on the watch.
Also with outdoor Kabaddi the lines are often chalked rather than painted. The Raider can show a puzzled umpire that they have chalk on their hands if it is unclear if they have reached their own side - only your fingertips need to get to the line to be given the point. They should of course still be attached to the rest of your body.
It can be played indoors on a pitch the same size as a badminton court (but without the net) or outdoors on a bigger, circular pitch.
In both versions you have two teams. At any point members of one of the teams are "Raiders" while the others are "Defenders."
The Raiders have one person who goes into the other teams half, touches a member of the other team and scampers back into their own half to score a point. Like f*** they do. They scamper into the other half and then the fun starts. The Defenders tend to link arms and form themselves into a semi-circle which pulls away from the raider as s/he approaches at one end while circling round behind them at the other.
If the Raider touches a Defender the object of the Defenders is to stop the Raider returning to their own half. With indoor Kabaddi the whole team can get involved but in outdoor Kabaddi only the person who is touched can stop the raider's return journey.
Let's stick with indoor Kabaddi for now. There is a time limit for a raid but it is not set by the unpire or referee. It is the amount of time it takes the Raider to use up one breath. To show everyone that a second breath is not being taken the raider chants "Kabaddi, Kabbadi, Kabaddi..." over and over again. If they stop they have to end the raid and lose a point - the same goes if they lose the chant (like when someone is sitting on their head).
In the outdoor version you know that the person you touch is the only one who can chase you - so you have to decide between the lumbering oaf who will tear you limb from limb if they catch you or the skinny whippet who will definitely catch you but you may be able to swat like a fly. In the outdoor version the umpire sets the time limit for the raid (30 seconds I think) and keeps an eye on the watch.
Also with outdoor Kabaddi the lines are often chalked rather than painted. The Raider can show a puzzled umpire that they have chalk on their hands if it is unclear if they have reached their own side - only your fingertips need to get to the line to be given the point. They should of course still be attached to the rest of your body.
