5 defence moves in kabaddi that are tough to escape

All team sports need a good defence unit to be successful and kabaddi is no different. Defence in kabaddi requires focus, co-ordination, teamwork, awareness and timing from all members of the team.

Since it is the raider’s job to get a touch and escape to the half-line, defenders need to stay focused to see off these attempts and time their moves to perfection.

Here we list a few defensive moves that require individual skills as well as teamwork to form a formidable unit. Watch out for some of these show-stopping moves in the upcoming season of VIVO Pro Kabaddi.

1. Ankle Hold

Like the name suggests, this move involves grabbing the raider’s ankle and pulling him inside your own half, enabling other teammates to join in and tackle the raider. This is every Corner’s go-to move when a raider attempts to score a Bonus point or tries to get a Toe Touch.

As easy as it may sound, this is one of the toughest defensive moves to execute. It requires perfect timing to get a good hold, immense strength to pull the raider in and a tight grip to prevent any attempt from the raider to escape the defender’s clutches.

Keep an eye on Haryana Steelers’ Surender Nada, who is the master of the Ankle Hold, during Season 5 of VIVO Pro Kabaddi.

2. Thigh Hold

The Thigh Hold is an advanced defensive maneuver that relies on the surprise-element to eliminate the raider. The defender dives at the thigh of the raider from a distance and brings him down through his body weight, enabling fellow defenders to join in and tackle the raider.

Again, timing and grip are quite crucial to execute a good thigh hold as an ill-timed dive could easily be dodged by the raider.

Follow Mohit Chhillar from Jaipur Pink Panthers to see a perfectly executed Thigh Hold.

3. Dash

This move requires a perfect balance of strength, agility and technique from a defender to execute it.

When a raider ventures too deep into the opposition half or is trying to escape after getting a touch, a defender runs across and pushes him out of bounds before he gets any part of his body beyond the half line to eliminate him. This move involves the defender using his body weight, speed and strength to create enough momentum to make sure he gets his raider.

Not only does the defender making a Dash needs to ensure that he tackles the raider out of bounds, but also needs to keep some part of his body in-bounds to avoid getting eliminated himself.

Iranian Fazel Atrachali, U Mumba’s left corner can muscle up some of the most powerful Dashes.

4. Block

Getting in front of the raider and stopping him from getting to the half-line requires tremendous strength, good positioning and immaculate timing on a defender’s part.

A raider might try to escape a block by using a ‘Dubki’ or a Frog Jump over the defender. Hence, it is essential that the defender gets his body position right and gets a firm grip before using his strength to push back the raider and perform a perfect Block.

One-Man-Army Manjeet Chhillar from Tamil Thalaivas is the perfect candidate for showcasing a good Block.

5. Chain Tackle

A Chain Tackle is the perfect example of communication and co-ordination between teammates.

In this move, a defender locks hands with another defender to rush the raider, thereby reducing the amount of space that he can run into, and then both defenders tackle him, making it almost impossible for raider to escape. Getting their grip and coordination right is a must, with both defenders needed to be wary in anticipating about how the raider will be tackled.

All defensive units form chains during a raid because when trying to stop a raider from escaping, two tacklers are better than one.