Cirit, A traditional Turkish Equestrian Sport When the Turkish people poured westwards from their Central Asian homelands in the 11th century, they came on horseback into Anatolia, the land which the poet Nazym Hikmet described as ‘stretching like a mare’s head into the Mediterranean’. The horse, which played a central role in Turkish life in the Central Asian steppes, was probably first ridden and harnessed to vehicles in the area between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea northeast of Anatolia.

Cirit, A traditional Turkish Equestrian Sport When the Turkish people poured westwards from their Central Asian homelands in the 11th century, they came on horseback into Anatolia, the land which the poet Nazym Hikmet described as ‘stretching like a mare’s head into the Mediterranean’. The horse, which played a central role in Turkish life in the Central Asian steppes, was probably first ridden and harnessed to vehicles in the area between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea northeast of Anatolia. The Turks brought not only their horses to Anatolia but many related aspects of their culture, one being the equestrian sport known as cirit or jereed. Cirit is a means of improving equestrian skills, and involves two teams of horsemen, each armed with a dried date, oak or poplar stick.

Cirit, A traditional Turkish Equestrian Sport These sticks are 70-100 cm in length and 2-3 cm in diameter, with blunt ends. They were originally heavier and thicker, but to reduce the risk of injury players came to prefer sticks made of poplar wood, which become lighter when dried. The players ride horses specially trained for the sport. The teams line up facing one another on the field, each player at a distance of about 100 metres from the next. The person who signals the start of the game is known as the çavus, and before the game he introduces each of the players to the spectators with words of praise. Meanwhile drums and reed pipes play military marches and Köroglu folk airs. At the beginning of the game it is traditional for the youngest rider to trot towards the opposing team, and at a distance of 10-15 metres toss his cirit stick at one of the players. Simultaneously he turns his horse back and tries to reach the safety of his own side, pursued by the other player with a stick in his hand.

Cirit, A traditional Turkish Equestrian Sport This process of chasing and fleeing, while trying to hit an opponent with a stick, is the essence of the game, which requires skill and sportsmanship. To hit the horse instead of the rider, which is regarded as the sign of an inexperienced player, is against the rules, and the offender is sent off the field. The referees, who are former cirit players with standing in the community, count the number of hits and at the end of the game announce the winning team.

Cirit, A traditional Turkish Equestrian Sport Experienced cirit players rarely miss hitting an opponent, and are skilled at avoiding hits themselves by bending low, hanging down from one side of the horse, and other feats of acrobacy. Part of the skill lies in training the horses so that they play a significant role in the outcome of the game. The formation of the two teams has its traditional etiquette. Care is taken not to put players who are on bad terms in opposing teams, and players who display deliberately hostile behaviour during a match are blacklisted.

Archery The prosperity of archers and especially horseback archers in Turks goes back to prehistoric times. From about 5000 BC, great importance has been given to horses and archery in the "Mounted Bozkir Culture" that emerged around the Altai and God Mountains and then completely dominated by Inner Asia. [1] Historical Turkish equestrian archers were known for their ability to hit the target precisely by turning over the saddle and shooting arrows to the back when going to the four nala.

Archery In the international literature, the most successful and most famous practitioners of the arrow shot made back on the horse called "Part Shoot" were the Turks. The right of the Turkish hero Tarkan to attach hawk feathers to the tolgas was given only to the ability to successfully implement the Part throw. [3] Tactics such as hit-and-run, fake retreat and wrapping around the enemy are tactics used by Turkish horse archers and play a key role in many victories. [3] [4] In the Oguz Kagan Epic from Turkish epics, arrow and bow take place with symbolic meanings.

Archery In the past of Turkish culture, archery has had a wide field setting. In Central Asia, continuous hunting, which is a source of livelihood and military exercise, has enabled the development of Turkish horse archery; Turks carried these skills from Central Asia to Anatolia. [4] Archery is also important in the social field besides war fighting, hunting, and sports. For example, during military holidays, various sporting archery competitions took place in social life in religious ceremonies. Turks living in nomadic regions of Eurasia have been giving secrets to the special materials and techniques used in the construction of arrows and springs, transferring them to the generations by master-apprentice, giving superiority to the Turks against the established peoples thanks to the technological difference and giving them excellence in social life with their arms producers.  

ARCHERY Turks are specialized in throwing arrows forward, backward and side by side. Anna Komnena said: "If a Turk has been chased, she will have the right to throw her arrow, if she is being chased, her arrows will prevail, and the thrown arrow will flee to a horse or horse, and if the arrow is stretched with a strong hand, it will pierce the body. Archers. "

WRESTLING The traditional Turkish national sport has been yağlı güreş (oiled wrestling) since Ottoman times. Edirne has hosted the annual Kırkpınar oiled wrestling tournament since 1361. International wrestling styles governed by FILA such asFreestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling are also popular, with many European, World and Olympic championship titles won by Turkish wrestlers

BLADE The Turks have opened ages throughout history with horses and swords, and they have conquered ages. Kılıç was considered sacred in Turks. The Turks have shown great talent in the construction and use of the brick, and they made great strides in the use technique of the brick.