The main objective of the defence players or catcher is to catch the raider and prevent him from escaping to his home court. To achieve this objective, the catcher can use any of the six fundamental defence skills, i.e., ankle hold, thigh hold, knee hold, waist hold, wrist hold and arm hold.
Ankle hold
Ankle hold is one of the commonly used defensive skills. In this technique, the defending player (catcher) holds the ankle of the raider with both hands.
Ankle hold
![Ankle hold](https://www.sarthaks.com/?qa=blob&qa_blobid=1836596425466571934)
Thigh hold
It is also a defensive technique in which the defender throws his body on the raider to hold both thighs with the arms around the thighs of raider.
Thigh hold
![Thigh hold](https://www.sarthaks.com/?qa=blob&qa_blobid=985018919249680084)
Knee hold
This is not a common skill in kabaddi but when used by the defender, it works like a jaw to catch the raider.
Knee hold
![Knee hold](https://www.sarthaks.com/?qa=blob&qa_blobid=8066668479524422588)
Waist hold
Waist hold is used during the struggle when the raider moves back to one’s own court after the raid.
Waist hold
![Waist hold](https://www.sarthaks.com/?qa=blob&qa_blobid=3368366531368835555)
Arm hold
During struggle, arms of the raider are held to stabilise the raider but this is not a very common practice as the arm hold is natural action occurs during competition.
Arm hold
![Arm hold](https://www.sarthaks.com/?qa=blob&qa_blobid=9955812349338686965)
Offensive skills
Toe touch
Toe touch is executed by the raider to touch the opponent by toe during raid for scoring a point.
Toe touch
![Toe touch](https://www.sarthaks.com/?qa=blob&qa_blobid=2439855745901984725)
Side kick
The raider tries to touch the opponent by side kicking, keeping in mind that the opponent should not hold the leg.
Front kick
In front kick, the raider tries to kick from front, in a deceiving action, keeping in mind that the opponent should not grab the leg.
Front kick
![Front kick](https://www.sarthaks.com/?qa=blob&qa_blobid=1179165633599187266)
Mule or Back kick
It is a deceiving kick, performed by standing in front of the opponent and facing in the same direction.
Mule or back kick
![Mule or back kick](https://www.sarthaks.com/?qa=blob&qa_blobid=5358379297680029576)