Kabaddi: Know the basic terms of the sport & what they mean

Its your complete guide to the key rules and phrases used in the popular sport.

The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has merged some traditional Kabaddi rules and terms with modern-day technology, glitz, and glamour. This has resulted in a fast-paced and action-packed sport, making every match in the league a keenly contested one.

The league organizers have borrowed some concepts and have come up with a few of their own, such as the do-or-die raid. The current package makes for exciting viewing, both in the stadiums and on television. This extensive glossary will contain frequently used terms and the meaning behind them.

The Pro Kabaddi League has seen a total viewership of over 400 million, making it India’s second most popular sports league behind the Indian Premier League. Here are some key terms, skills, and concepts to get familiarized with in order to get a better understanding of the rules and regulations.

All-out:

An all-out is declared when all 7 members of a team are off the mat, either after being tagged by a raider or after getting pinned down by defenders. The team that enforces an all-out gets two additional points, after which all seven players of the opposition are revived.

Ankle hold:

Usually a skill mastered by the corners, an ankle hold is when a defender latches on to a raider’s ankle/s with grip strength just as he/she attempts a bonus point or toe touch. The ankle hold restricts the foot movement of the raider, rendering him/her immobile. Surender Nada and Fazel Atrachali specialise in ankle holds.

Block:

A block is a defensive move wherein the defender situates himself/herself directly in the path of an escaping raider and prevents him/her from crossing the mid-line. Sandeep Narwal, Manjeet Chillar, and Parvesh Bhainswal use the block to good effect.

Back hold:

A very tough defensive skill to master, a back hold requires strength, awareness, and timing. A defender grabs a raider on his/her back and flips them to the ground. Ran Singh was the best exponent of this skill.

Baulk line:

These are the lines parallel to the midline. The distance from the baulk line to the midline is 3.75 meters. Raiders need to cross the baulk line to ensure a legal raid.

Bonus line:

The line between the baulk line and the end line. The distance between the bonus line and baulk line is 1 meter. A raider needs to cross the bonus line with his other

Chant:

While raiding, a raider has to continuously chant ‘Kabaddi Kabaddi’ throughout the raid

Corner:

There are two corners at the extreme ends of the defensive seven. They are key parts of the defence, as raiders target either one of them first. They need to be sharp and quick to dodge a running hand-touch while possessing a firm ankle hold and block.

Cover:

There are two covers in the center of the defensive seven. They are usually a part of a chain. They need to have a good dash, block, and thigh hold while contributing to assists. Cover defenders also are super-tackle specialists.

Dash:

In a dash, a defender blindsides a raider, rushing with pace and pushing the raider out of bounds. Perfect teamwork is essential to execute a dash. Jeeva Gopal and Vishal Mane were experts in the dash.

In:

Situated between the covers and corners are the ins. They are typically raiders, who help in assists.

Lobby:

The stripes at both ends of the court. If a raider or defender enters the lobby without any contact, they are immediately removed from the ongoing raid

Left-right raider:

Raiders who are comfortable in raiding from both sides. A very versatile tool to have.

Mid-line:

The mid-line divides the court into two territories. Raiders need to get back to the mid-line after tagging a defender or after a struggle to get points.

Running hand-touch:

This is a raider’s primary weapon for point-scoring. He/she runs across from one corner to another with hands extended, sometimes stooping low and sometimes following a quick pivot.

Thigh Hold:

A defender gets a hold of a raider’s thighs well before the mid-line.

Toe Touch:

The raider tries to touch the defender on the toe with his/her outstretched leg. Unpredictability is key, watch Anup Kumar’s raids to understand how this is best executed.

Back Kick:

A very deceptive skill in which a raider changes his/her stance within a fraction of a second and kicks backward looking for touch points. This is also called a Mule Kick.

Chain Tackle:

A chain tackle involves a combination of two or more defenders holding hands. The aim is to block the raider’s return path by pouncing in unison. Teamwork and coordination are key to pulling a chain tackle off.

Do-or-die raid:

An invention post the modernization of Kabaddi rules, the do-or-die raid keeps both raiders and defenders on their toes and is an efficient tactic to deploy during close games or a game between two equally matched sides. After two successive empty raids, the third raid becomes a do-or-die raid, where the raider must get a point or return to the bench. Rishank Devadiga and Deepak Niwas Hooda excelled under the added pressure of a do-or-die raid.

Dubki:

One of the hardest escape skills to master, a Dubki requires a raider to crouch under a chain tackle and spring himself/herself to the mid-line. This requires razor-sharp instincts, as exhibited on several occasions by Pardeep Narwal.

Empty Raid:

If a raider crosses the baulk line and returns to the mid-line without tagging a defender, it is an empty raid. It can be a useful tactic to run the clock down for a team leading or an effective way to play the match solely on do-or-die raids.

Frog Jump:

This is an attacking move that brings everyone watching off their seats. When the raider is working with very little lateral clearance to escape from defenders, a frog jump is used. If a defender goes low to attack the ankles, the raider leaps into the air with support from the defender’s arched back like a frog springing up using its hind legs. Pawan Sehrawat once jumped 6-7 feet over the defence using a frog jump. Rajesh Mondal also used this skill during his heydays. Ajay Thakur and Rohit Kumar used their reach very well in their own version of the frog jump.

Golden Raid:

If there is a tie between two teams in a knockout match at the end of extra time, a golden raid is conducted. The referee conducts a toss and the team that wins raids.

High 5:

If a defender completes five or more tackle points in a single PKL match, he/she gets a High 5.

Lion Jump:

Another daring skill in a raider’s arsenal, the raider first checks the defender’s footing, and propels up using power derived from the calf muscles. He/she uses the momentum off the defender’s back to get airborne, turns to face the mid-line if necessary, and scampers away with a big haul of points. Hi-flier Pawan Sehrawat uses this to out-fox defenders.

Pursuit:

A defender seizes the raiding initiative in this move by pursuing a returning raider back to his/her own half. This often ends as a quick point.

Revive sequence:

Revivals must happen in the same order as eliminations. The first player to be eliminated is the first player to be revived.

Side kick:

In this move, a raider attempts to get a touch on a defender by kicking sideways without losing balance. A raider must have the ideal body balance and center of gravity.

Scorpion Kick:

To manage a scorpion kick successfully, a raider turns his/her back and attempts a touch by raising one foot at a very high angle, while using the hands and other foot for support. It resembles a scorpion’s tail rising to sting, hence the name. Jang Kun Lee popularised this skill.

Super Tackle:

When three defenders or less manage to pin a raider, a super tackle is awarded, with two points handed to the defending side.

Super Raid:

A raid attempt in which the raider scores three or more points is called a super raid. Pardeep Narwal has the most super raids in the PKL.

Super 10:

If a raider scores more than 10 raid points in a single PKL match, he/she gets a super 10.