Pawan Kumar Sehrawat's incredible Frog Jump more than just a leap of faith

With the score at 20-23 and just under two minutes into the second half, Bengaluru Bulls raider Pawan Kumar Sehrawat went in for a raid to cut his team’s deficit. In the context of the game, it was crucial for Sehrawat to stay on the mat. After all, he has been his team’s leading scorer in VIVO Pro Kabaddi Season 6 and losing him in just the second minute of the half could have been a big psychological blow to Bengaluru Bulls. And that is probably what Patna Pirates’ Corner defender Ravinder Kumar knew when he charged from Sehrawat’s blindside to tackle him.

His timing was perfect. Sehrawat had rushed across the mat to attempt a Running Hand Touch and Ravinder Kumar used Sehrawat’s blindside to place himself perfectly between the midline and the raider. The odds were stacked against Sehrawat in this situation. He couldn’t go around the defender as his path was blocked by the corner defender. He couldn’t stand in for a second and use the Dubki as a moment of hesitation might have led to an Ankle Hold from the defenders behind him. In that moment, the options for Sehrawat’s escape were bleak. Perhaps he would have to fly over the defender, but that couldn’t be possibly achieved.

Or could it?

Sehrawat somehow leaped over Kumar and even managed to land on his feet, before striking a pose for the cameras. The home crowd were flabbergasted. So was everyone on the mat. After all, they had just seen a man fly. Pawan Kumar Sehrawat’s Frog Jump was quite possibly the most impressive moment of the season. But what mechanics were in play in his improbable move?

The most crucial element was the timing. The timing of the jump had to coincide with Ravinder Kumar’s attempt to plant his feet and hold Sehrawat around his waist to execute his Block. Had he jumped a fraction earlier, the defender would have had enough time to readjust his body position to hold him midway and on the flipside, had he jumped a second later, he never would have taken flight as the defender would have had his hands wrapped around Sehrawat’s torso.

Speaking of the jump, the height that he achieved was worth marveling. The core strength and the burliness of his legs enabled him to leap high enough to avoid the hand of the on-rushing defender. Another moment that displays his mastery of the move is the use of his own hands that he uses in order to gain extra momentum to achieve more distance when he lands. Had his jump taken him over only the blocking defender, it would have left Sehrawat vulnerable to an attack from the other members of the defence. But because he used Ravinder’s pecs to gain some horizontal momentum, he was able to land at a distance safe from any possible attempt at a tackle.

The position of his feet, right from when he takes off for his leap to when he lands exhibits his world class athleticism. He ensures that his feet stay close to his body throughout the move, ensuring that no defender could have a chance of grabbing it midair and ceasing his jump. He also ensured that his right leg and his hands hit the mat at the same time, making sure none of his limbs take the full brunt of his body weight. That minimised any chance of an injury that landing from almost six feet in the air could have had.

The timing of the jump, the elevation that he achieves, the position of his feet and the technique he displays on landing make Pawan Kumar Sehrawat’s Frog Jump a moment to enjoy ceaselessly.