Egyptian stick fencing

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Egyptian stick fencing can be classified into ancient and modern forms. Ancient Egyptian stick fencing was practiced during religious ceremonies, processions, and as sport or game in ancient Egypt.

The ancient Egyptians performed stick fencing or stick fighting as a tribute to the pharaoh. This type of fencing was probably based on actual fighting systems used in combat with a shield and a sword. It then probably evolved into a system with its own rules and methods. Several assumptions had to be made in order to understand stick fighting of the ancient Egyptians. The rules used by the ancient Egyptians were probably simple and few. There are two conclusions either the contest was of endurance or of skill. There is stronger evidence that the game, is a game of skill and that hitting the head was a goal. There were advantages of teaching sticking fighting, along with other combat sports such as a wrestling. The main advantage is the fact that the Egyptian army could be kept trained and ready for war. In many respects resembles the sport of single stick.

Stick fencing is still popular among Egyptians, particularly during the month of Ramadan. Stick fighting and stick dancing is performed during marriage ceremonies. It is called tahteeb or tahtib and still practiced in northern Egypt. The stick is symbolic of masculinity and a phallus. This is a male dance only. Although there are women who are performing the dance, they are dressed as men and they are dancing with other women. The dance with the women, is to be flirtatious and the stick is a general symbol of masculinity and is manipulated by the woman. The stick is about four feet in length and is called an Asa, Asaya, or Assaya or Nabboot.

Stick fighting has also been used in fights between members of rival families, mostly in the Egyptian countryside.

[edit] See also

• Poliakoff, Michael, 1987 Competition, Violence, and Culture Combat Sport in the Ancient World
• Kendo
• Fencing
• Nguni stick fighting
• Single stick
• Eskrima

[edit] Links

• http://www.alliancemartialarts.com/tahtib.html