It is believed that the sport of Kabaddi can be traced back to prehistoric India around 4,000 years ago. There is evidence that the game was played in Tamil Nadu. It was used to strengthen warriors for self-defense and sharpen reflexes for hunting. The word Kabaddi may come from the word kai pidi or kai hidi, which in the Tamil language of Kannada translates to “hold hands.” This describes players’ defensive strategy to corral and capture an attacker. Most people believe that Kabaddi originated in India during the ancient Vedic Period. Yet, some believe its origin comes from the Sistan region of modern-day Iran.

Modern Kabaddi drew inspiration for its game mechanics from the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata. The god Krishna taught specialized battle tactics to Arjuna in utero. He famously dissected a specialized defensive circle maneuver called the Chakravyuha during a major battle in the story (that featured chariot warfare). Arjuna could penetrate this circular defensive tactic when no one else was successful. However, he never learned how to escape the formation once inside because he and his mother were asleep when Krishna explained how to escape. Therefore, they were trapped within its seven layers, and he was eventually killed. The game of Kabaddi honors Arjuna and his strategy through “ring play,” which was also a valuable strategy for soldiers to work together defensively to neutralize a single attacking force. The Gautama Buddha played the game with his friends in Buddhist writings.

The sport goes by different names, each with slightly different rule sets, depending on the region of India where it was played. In West India, the game is called Hu-Tu-Tu or Hututu. For example, it is called Hadudu or Ha-Do-Do in the East and Bangladesh. In Sri Lanka, it is called Gudu. In the Maldives, the game is called Baibalaa or Bhavaitik. The north and south of India it is called Chedugudu and Chadakudu. The game is also known in Thailand as Theechub. Known as “The Game of the Masses,” the three modern versions of the sport take pieces from all these variations. Yet, India recognizes five different regional styles (only two are internationally recognized). The differences between these styles usually involve the playing area or how players are revived after being tackled. These recognized styles are Sanjeevani Kabaddi, Gaminee Kabaddi, Amar Kabaddi, Punjabi Kabaddi (or Circle Kabaddi), and National Kabaddi. Another style is Beach Kabaddi, which debuted in the 2008 Bali Asian indoor games. Some consider it to be the most authentic to the sport’s origins.

Traditional, or National Kabaddi, synthesizes many different regional styles. With its rules created in 1923, Kabaddi debuted in the 1936 Olympic Games as a demonstration sport. In 1938, the game was included in the Indian Olympic Games. In 1950, the All-Indian Kabaddi Federation was founded. They created a more standardized rule set for the sport, National Style Kabaddi. Starting in 1955, the federation promoted the sport through national tournaments, which pushed the sport to be included in school curriculums in 1961. The amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, created in 1972, helped promote the sport outside India. It coincidently is the same year Bangladesh made Kabaddi its national sport. Soon after, an Asian Amateur Federation was formed with its own championships, opening the door for national teams to compete in international

competitions. The first international Asian Kabaddi tournament was held in 1980, which featured teams from Nepal, Malaysia, Japan, Bangladesh, and India. In 1990, Kabaddi debuted as a medal sport in XI Asian Games hosted in Beijing. Mumbai would host the first Kabaddi World Cup in 2004, which featured national teams worldwide. To this day, India is still undefeated, but the sport is gaining popularity, which will improve international competitions.

Kabaddi is the official game of the Indian states of Punjab, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Haryana, Telangana, and Maharashtra. Kabaddi was made the national sport of Bangladesh in 1972. The national sport of Nepal, Kabaddi, is taught in all state schools. Kabaddi is very popular in Iran as well. The sport has become very popular in Japan because of Sundar Ram, who visited the country in 1979. Japan became a formidable opponent in Kabaddi during the Asian Games.

The sport is attacking and defending game where the attacker (raider) tries to tag the defenders (antis) and return to their territory. The defending team tries to prevent the attacker from returning to their territory after the tag. The tagged defensive player(s) are “sent out” until their team scores getting all their opponents out. This can revive eliminated teammates or if the raider was successfully tackled before returning to their territory. As a raider, points are earned for every defender tagged if the raider can successfully return to their territory without getting tackled. Defenders earn points for preventing attackers from returning by tackling them by the body or limbs. Bonus points are earned for other feats, such as touching the bonus line as a raider or preventing all attackers from returning as defenders (called an All Out). A peculiar game feature is that the raider can only use one breath when attacking. To prove this feat, the raider must repeatedly repeat the word “Kabaddi” to prove that they only used one breath during the attacking phase. The playing area is traditionally 10 meters by 13 meters, and no special equipment is needed to play. This makes the game accessible, a feature of another famous Indian game called Kho Kho. Kabaddi has grown in popularity due to its television exposure and endorsements through its professional league, the PRO Kabaddi League, founded in 2014.

Materials: 

·      An ample open space (such as a gym or field)

o   If in a field, you may need cones to mark the boundaries

▪      Some type of washable paint can be used to make clear visible lines on the grass or pavement if allowed

·      Two different colored sets of flag belts for every student

Minimum Amount of Students: You could play a modified version of this game with as few as four students. However, it is more fun when you have an entire class of around twenty.

Age: All ages