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Sports Unlimited continues to try anything for the first time. This week it’s a 4,000-year-old Indian game called Kabaddi. If you’re Indian, you know Kabaddi… if you’re not you’ve probably never seen this game played before. Plus our very own Marc Nelson makes it to the race of all races… The Amazing Race, People, Passion and adventure that’s Sports Unlimited.

Though KABADDI is primarily an Indian game, not much is known about its origin. There is a popular belief that Kabaddi originated in the Indian state of PUNJAB and there is concrete evidence that the game is 4000 years old!

KABADDI is a relatively simple and inexpensive game, it does not require a big playing field and no equipment is needed. This explains the popularity of the game in rural India.

Kabaddi requires both skill and power it is a team pursuit game and was used to train soldiers before battle like the gladiators in the roman times.

You can somewhat describe Kabaddi by saying it has the game characteristics of wrestling and rugby.

If you have no prior knowledge about how Kabaddi is played it may seem confusing to you at first, but once you watch it long enough it really isn't that hard to understand what it takes to win the game here is a very basic explanation of game play.

There are 2 teams...12 players per team but only 7 or sometimes 5 player’s start the rest of the players are reserves.

A single attacker which is called the "RAIDER" crosses to the opposing team where there are 4 defenders that are called "STOPPERS" who are awaiting the "raider" in a semi-circle holding each other arm to arm.

The "raider" must tag one and only one of the stoppers once he does that he must run back and cross the middle line within 30 seconds. If the "raider" is able to do this he scores one point for his team. While the "raider" is running back to the middle line, the "stopper" from the other team that was tagged can try to stop the "raider" by tackling him or pushing him out of bound. If the "stopper" is able to do this he scores one point for his team...KENJI is a technique of grappling used in the game to stop the "raider."

I'm sure you've noticed by now that I am the only girl in the field that's because in reality the game of Kabaddi is only played by men. But I had to explain to these guys that this is not reality this is Sports Unlimited and that I wanted to get involved in the action even just a little the guys gave in to me and taught me KENJI… a technique of grappling used in the game to stop the "raider".

After realizing how big and muscular some of these players were up close. I was almost regretting asking them if I could get involved in the action there is no way I can be tackled by these guys. If I were the "raider" and they were the "stoppers" I would be crushed to bits.

Alright! Learning the techniques of Kenji is good enough for me. It's time to leave the big boys alone to play the game.

It's important to mention that real tournament matches are staged on the basis of AGE and WEIGHT... That makes a lot of sense the small bodies’ battle against each other and the big guys can go at it and pick on someone their own size.

Wait a minute… what is this? They said Kabaddi was a combination of wrestling and rugby. What sport does the slapping each other come from?

This game may be 4000 years old but I have never seen anything like it. I can see though how guys can really get into this game first thought that crossed my mind if there is any kind of aggression in them they can take it all out when playing this game.

What amazes me is how these guys can be such good friend outside the field and then just slug each other out like this when on the field not only is there skill and power needed to play Kabaddi.. I would have to add that you also need a much disciplined temper and a strong focus on the fact that it really still is only a game.

I may never play Kabaddi but doing this shoot proved to me that differences in culture create diversity in this game of life that we all play.

AXN Amazing Race

One of the most popular races in the world, the Amazing Race Asia has already started airing its second edition, and true to the Sports Unlimited spirit of taking challenges, and showing courage in trying new things, I wasn’t amazed at all when my partner Marc got into this tough-tough race, with fellow sports and travel fanatic, Rovilson Fernandez.

From more than 2 thousand applicants that sent in their video auditions, only ten teams were chosen, to join this prestigious reality race show. Marc and Rovilson, and the husband and wife tandem of Henry and Terri Read were chosen to represent the Philippines to compete against 8 other teams from the Asian Region.

More than 15 million viewers tune in to this show per episode all over Asia, making it the biggest reality race on TV. With a hundred thousand dollar prize going to the winner, you can bet the field was totally amped to win.