The Origin of Kabaddi

The sport has a long History dating back to pre- historic times. It was probably invented to ward off group attacks by individuals and vice versa. The game was very popular in the southern part of Asia played in its different forms and different names. A dramatized version of the great Indian epic, the  Mahabharata, has made an analogy of the game to a tight situation faced by Abhimanyu, the heir of the Panadava kings when he is surrounded on all sides by the enemy. Buddhist literature speaks of the  Gautam Buddha playing Kabaddi for recreation.  History also reveals that princes of yore played
Kabaddi to display their strength and win their brides.

Forms of Kabaddi

Amar
Amar literally means invincible. This is a form of Kabaddi, which is played based on points scored by both sides. The play field has no specific measurements and 9 to 11 players constitute each of the teams. In this form of Kabaddi, there is no out and revival system or Lona but time is the deciding factor. The main advantage of this form of the game is that the players remain in the court throughout the match and are able to give their best performance.

Gemini
This form of Kabaddi is played with nine players on each side, in a play field of no specific measurements. The principle characteristic of this form of Kabaddi is that a player who is pit out has to remain out until all his team members are put out. The team that is successful in putting out all the players of its opponent’s side secure a point. This is similar to the present system of Lona. After all the players are put out, the team is
revived and the game continues. The game continues until five or seven Lona are secured. The game has no fixed time. The main disadvantage of this form of Kabaddi is that the player is not in position to give the best performance since he is likely to remain out for the better part of the match until a Lona is scored.

Sanjeevani
This form of Kabaddi is the closest to the present game. In this form of Kabaddi, players are put out and revived and the game last for 40 minutes with a 5 minute break in between. The team consists of nine players on each side. The team that pouts out all the players on the opponent’s side scores for extra pointsfor a Lona.

The wining team is the one that scores the maximum number of points at the end of the 40 minutes. The play field is bigger in this form of Kabaddi and the ‘cant’ was different in various regions. Modern Kabaddi resembles this form of Kabaddi a great deal especially with regard to out and revival system and Lona, The present form of Kabaddi is a synthesis of all those forms of Kabaddi with a good number of changes in the rules
and regulations.

Kabaddi - For the Fit and Agile

The game does not require any equipment & any special kit. What is required is agility, good muscular co-ordination, presence of mind, dare, quick reflexes, good lung capacity, and an ability to anticipate the opponent’s moves. Kabaddi is closely related to Yoga, the ancient Indian science that advocates a healthy mind in a healthy body. The attacker or raider in Kabaddi has to withhold his breath while chanting  Kabaddi- Kabaddi and invade the opponent’s territory, where he has to try to touch as many opponents or
antis as possible while warding off their combined efforts to capture him. With holding breath is akin to Pranayama of yoga, a means to control body and mind. Pitching one’s wits against those of seven opponents and remaining unscathed is no mean task! This calls for tremendous fitness of body and mind. The game is thus most suitable for youngsters.

Brief History & Official Kabaddi Bodies in India/Asia

Kabaddi is being played in the Asian sub- continent from times immemorial. Kabaddi received its first Inter-National exposure during the 1936 Berlin Olympics, demonstrated by Hanuman Vyayam  Prasarak Mandal, Amaravati, Maharashtra. The game was introduced in the Indian Olympic Games at Calcutta, in the year 1938. The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, the new body, came into existence in the year 1972. This body was formed with a view to popularize the game in the neighboring countries and
organize regular National level Men and Women tournaments. After the formation of this body, sub-junior and junior sections were included in Kabaddi national level tournaments, as a regular feature.