Oposing Targets with Tabla Targets

Origin: Egypt

Diameter: 60 cm
Height: 60 cm

Adaptation for T.A.I.:
Shooting Distance: 10 m
4 arrows are to shoot
Time limit: 20 Seconds

Historical Background

The historical background of the Opposing Targets and the Tabla Targets leads directly to the golden age of Mamluk Egypt (c. 1250–1517 CE). During this era, one of the world’s most sophisticated military and equestrian archery traditions developed, which was recorded in detail in Arabic military manuals, the so-called Furūsiyya manuscripts.

The Roots in the Mamluk Military Culture of Egypt.
Under the rule of the Mamluk sultans, who governed from Cairo, archery formed the backbone of military training. Young military recruits, known as Culban, spent years in a highly disciplined barracks structure. They learned the martial art step by step: first on the ground, then on a stationary wooden horse, next on a calm horse, and finally at full gallop. In this systematic training, the opposing targets on the ground played a fundamental role in training muscle memory, upper-body flexibility, and the rapid nocking of arrows using the blind method.

The “Opposing Targets” Training Concept.
The methodological basis for “Opposing Targets” (described in the original Arabic text as an exercise for opposing targets) can be found in the famous military manual *Kitāb fī bayān faḍl al-qaws wa-al-sahm wa-awṣāfihimā* (Book on the Excellence of the Bow and Arrows), which was written around 1500 AD. This work was translated into English in 1945 by Nabih Amin Faris and Robert Potter Elmer under the title Arab Archery, introducing Mamluk techniques to the West.

Chapter 45 of this work describes the operation of the Opposing Targets as follows:
The archer stands in the center of four targets arranged in a square—one target is to the right, one to the left, one in front, and one behind. The archer holds four arrows simultaneously between the fingers of his drawing hand. He must now shoot at the targets in a fixed order—beginning with the right target, then the rear, the left, and finally the front target. What makes this exercise unique is that the archer’s feet must not move from their spot at any time; all alignment and turning toward the targets is achieved solely through the rotation of the waist. This exercise served to prepare the upper body for the extreme turns that would later be necessary on a galloping horse, when the rider had to engage targets within a 360-degree radius.

The Nature of “Tabla Targets”.
The targets used for these exercises are known as tabla targets. The word “tabla” is derived from the Arabic word ṭabla (drum, round object, disc) or the Turkish word for plate or serving tray. In the richly illustrated Mamluk military manuals, such as the Kitāb al-makhzūn li arbāb al-funūn from 1470, these discs are depicted as circular targets, often suspended from poles, at which archers and crossbowmen alike would shoot.

Historically, Mamluk tabla targets had a diameter of 60 centimeters. They were usually made of padded leather, straw, or wood and suspended by ropes to allow for a slight bounce upon impact. On the large military training grounds in Cairo, known as maydans (such as the famous Maydān al-Qabaq below Saladin’s Citadel), these round targets were ubiquitous.

The Modern Revival of Horseback Archery.
Today, the Mamluk heritage is experiencing a worldwide renaissance in modern horseback archery. Organizations such as the Mamluk Academy and international governing bodies like the International Horseback Archery Alliance (IHAA) have reconstructed the ancient techniques and equipment

The Adaptation for T.A.I. Historica Open Competitions
The distance to the targets is 10 meters. Four arrows are shot. The time limit is 20 seconds. The feet remain in the same position during shooting; only the upper body is turned in the respective direction. Since, due to T.A.I. safety guidelines, arrows cannot be shot at targets positioned directly opposite, the angle is 75 degrees instead of the usual 90 degrees (see illustration). The scoring per target is 5 points, 2 points, and 1 point. The maximum score is therefore 20 points.

With the kind support of Karim Elmasry, Egypt