Tahtib

Tahtib is a type of Egyptian martial arts derived from ancient Pharaonic origins. In Tahtib, they use wooden sticks in a way that is similar to fencing. The Upper Egypt is known for this art and it became part of its heritage and popular culture. It was derived from the ancient Egyptians who took the hobby as a basic game and considered it one of the most important traditions.
Tahtib is usually done by 2 men or more holding sticks and dancing on the melody of the psalm, and around them a circle of people, some of whom are fans of one party, against the fans of the other side, and these fans follow all the movements of the players carefully. The players start by exchanging greetings between each other, to show their willingness to start the competition and fight. The two players circulate around each other four times, for no more than two minutes, and then the sounds of the sticks beat the tune of the Psalms, the most famous musical instrument in Upper Egypt.

The value of the art of Tahtib is its history, which dates back to ancient Egypt. The inscriptions on the walls of the Karnak temple and the tombs of Bani Hassan confirm this. There are many drawings representing the diversity of playing the stick, and they performed it as a kind of training to fight in times of war, and to entertain in periods of peace. They used to remove the bayonets and train with sticks on the arts of defense and attack, and over the ages they became a popular heritage inherited by generations. Tahtib remains an original tradition that helps to bring about closeness and cohesion. It is practiced by people in social events and religious celebrations. People in Upper Egypt see it as means to consolidate the values ​​of courage and fulfillment, not an instrument of violence or repression.
They enjoy the content of a deep drama from Tahtib, which can be called from the idea of ​​heroism and equestrian in Egyptian Folklore. If it is a game, it is a reflection on the concepts of the society and its vision of the world around it. Each group from a village or center comes to encourage its player and declare its victory. It is a struggle of heroes representing groups, and here is the common essence that makes the game of Tahtib a central part of society, that can not be understood away from the civilized conditions. Tahtib helps Upper Egyptians to in the end to understand and explain their habits, traditions and arts.