DailynewsegyptDailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt July 4, 2025
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Mastercard Unveils AI-Powered Card Fraud Prevention Service in EEMEA Region, Starting from Egypt
    July 2, 2025
    BRICS energy transition must be country-specific, Russian official says
    BRICS energy transition must be country-specific, Russian official says
    July 2, 2025
    TV BRICS, UN Global Compact Network Russia sign media partnership on sustainable business
    TV BRICS, UN Global Compact Network Russia sign media partnership on sustainable business
    July 2, 2025
    Green investment, digital economy are key for BRICS cooperation, says expert
    Green investment, digital economy are key for BRICS cooperation, says expert
    July 2, 2025
    Latin America strengthens trade ties with BRICS, says chamber head
    Latin America strengthens trade ties with BRICS, says chamber head
    July 2, 2025
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Lot-drawing ceremony is a traditional religious ritual and historical convention that must be upheld in reincarnation of Living Buddhas: signed article
    Lot-drawing ceremony is a traditional religious ritual and historical convention that must be upheld in reincarnation of Living Buddhas: signed article
    July 2, 2025
    Central government approval is fundamental principle, legal safeguard of Grand Living Buddha reincarnation: signed article
    Chinese Central government approval is fundamental principle, legal safeguard of Grand Living Buddha reincarnation: signed article
    July 2, 2025
    Russia's Zakharova: BRICS responds to challenges with practical action
    Russia’s Zakharova: BRICS responds to challenges with practical action
    July 2, 2025
    Thailand confirms interest in strategic cooperation with BRICS
    Thailand confirms interest in strategic cooperation with BRICS
    July 2, 2025
    Russia's Putin says BRICS now 40% of global economy, calls for new growth model
    Russia’s Putin says BRICS now 40% of global economy, calls for new growth model
    July 2, 2025
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    From Al Mashroa X to The Seven Dogs: Karim Abdel Aziz charts new era for Egyptian film
    From Al Mashroa X to The Seven Dogs: Karim Abdel Aziz charts new era for Egyptian film
    July 1, 2025
    Rania Yehia
    When Egypt strikes chord in Rome: Rania Yehia and symphony of cultural diplomacy
    June 18, 2025
    Culture remains enduring constant at heart of resistance: Mohamed Salmawy
    Culture remains enduring constant at heart of resistance: Mohamed Salmawy
    June 11, 2025
    Iwan Stella
    Egypt poised to lead regional 5G expansion, eyes additional spectrum, SME inclusion: Ericsson
    June 10, 2025
    Jamal Soliman
    Art must be sincere to create lasting impact: Jamal Soliman
    May 7, 2025
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Font ResizerAa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Search
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Follow US
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > Culture > ‘Tahtib’: The once martial art that turned into a dance
Culture

‘Tahtib’: The once martial art that turned into a dance

Daily News Egypt
Last updated: May 8, 2018 1:08 am
Daily News Egypt
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

 

Egypt is known for having a unique heritage of martial arts that people still practice regularly without it being invaded by modernism or abandoned by younger generations; “tahtib” is one of them. Thousands of men in Egypt’s rural areas, especially Upper Egypt, still gather on a weekly basis to show off their abilities in winning friendly fights with sticks.

“Tahtib” (stick fighting) is an ancient martial art that goes back to ancient Egyptians. Drawings of young people fencing with sticks have been found on the walls of many temples, “El-Karnak Temple is one of them”. Books document that the game existed in that era and was widespread among all social classes, with men starting to learn it from young ages, as the wall carvings portray. Men intensively trained for stick fighting and fencing at that time, as a means of training for war.

The martial art was designated by UNESCO’s world heritage list as an intangible cultural heritage of Egypt’s in 2016.

Over the years, the sport has changed in style, yet remained the same at its core.

Nowadays, men no longer play tahtib as a form of fighting. Yet, it is still a form of showing their muscularity, strength, and intelligence when it comes to anticipating their opponent’s next move.

In recent years, tahtib has also been practiced as a dance. As most men learn the steps by heart, it has become a cultural dance that is practiced during “moulids” and other cultural events.

In Upper Egypt, tahtib is still practiced weekly, during celebrations and as a sort of entertainment. The sport is no longer seen as a way of fighting. A man’s talent is evaluated through his ability to hold the heavy stick and easily control it to prevent his competitor’s stick from touching his face or body, and most of all, not drop it.

Despite women not practicing the sport in Upper Egypt, they play a strong role in its popularity. It’s known that women send their sons to learn tahtib at ages as young as 10.

In some villages, being an expert at tahtib is a requirement for men to be accepted by families to wed their daughters. Men also invite their lovers to watch them while stick fighting as a way to show off their strength.

The martial art sport has rules and regulations of decency which protects both competitors from being harmed or injured.

All photos taken by Ahmed Dream

To follow Daily News Egypt on WhatsApp press here

To follow Daily News Egypt on Telegram press here

22 countries and cultures come together at fourth Drums Festival
Smiling in the face of adversity
Critical notes: Exhibitions flood Cairo art scene
27 statues of goddess Sekhmet discovered in Luxor 
CCDC celebrates the end of 5 Ra2s
TAGGED:danceTahtib
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Ad imageAd image

Stay Connected

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
YoutubeSubscribe
Ad imageAd image

Latest News

Mastercard Unveils AI-Powered Card Fraud Prevention Service in EEMEA Region, Starting from Egypt
Technology
Global tour for Korean 'K-Comics' launches in Cairo with 'Hellbound' exhibition
Global tour for Korean ‘K-Comics’ launches in Cairo with ‘Hellbound’ exhibition
Culture
Reincarnation of Living Buddhas never decided by reincarnated individuals: signed article
Reincarnation of Living Buddhas never decided by reincarnated individuals: signed article
Egypt
Lot-drawing ceremony is a traditional religious ritual and historical convention that must be upheld in reincarnation of Living Buddhas: signed article
Lot-drawing ceremony is a traditional religious ritual and historical convention that must be upheld in reincarnation of Living Buddhas: signed article
Politics

You Might Also Like

Culture

Dresden opens a new concert hall

April 29, 2017
Marwa Abu Leila
Culture

Cairo Photo Week aims to support Egyptian photography community: Marwa Abu Leila

April 7, 2021
Culture

Swiss chocolatier Romain Leemann holds workshops in Egypt

October 16, 2016
CultureWorld

Opinion: No miracles, just signs as Pope Francis ends Africa visit

November 30, 2015
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • home
  • Advertise with us
  • Developers
  • Subscribe with us
  • careers
  • Terms of service
  • Get In Touch
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?