Egyptian revives 5,000-year-old martial art
Cairo is working to revive interest in the 5,000-year-old marital art of tahteeb, which soldiers practiced to train for war.
Radwan Mansour inherited his nearly two-meter tahteeb stick from his father in Luxor Governorate to the south of Cairo.
Mansour, who is now in his 50s, told Al-Monitor that his father taught him the rules and arts of the fighting game when he was 10 years old and it has ever since been a meaningful part of his life.
Tahteeb is well known in the Upper Egypt governorates. According to folklore researcher Masoud Shoman its name derives from “hatab,” Arabic for "dead branches." He added that the strikes are not necessarily hard and that players earn a point whenever their stick touches their competitor.
Tahteeb was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2016 as a martial art. The organization's description reads, "Its role has since changed to that of a festive game but some of the symbolism and values associated with the practice remain," and "The rules of the game are based on values such as mutual respect, friendship, courage, strength, chivalry and pride.” In cooperation with UNESCO, the Egyptian Ministry of Culture is seeking to revive popular interest in the game.
