By Robert Hentschel
Ottoman archery – the words evoke scenes from hundreds of years ago, of whooping horse-backed archers bearing down on hapless foes.
Yet Ottoman archery endures to this day.
Ahmed Karat had been shooting compound bows for 10 years when he came across the translation of a 15th century Arabic archery manuscript.
“When I read it,” Karat said, “I closed the book and said ‘I know nothing about archery … when I compare it to that’.”
Inspired, he went abroad, studied, trained with “knowledgeable people”, and eventually returned to Australia to found the Maydaan Archery Club.
In traditional Ottoman archery the focus is on developing and harmonising body and mind.
“Rather than the target being the bullseye, the target should be self-development and becoming a better person,” said Karat.
Maydaan Archery Club aims to cultivate four qualities in its members: generosity, comfort in discomfort, a willingness to improve and, lastly, balance in all things.
“So, not being too generous, not being too much into discomfort or comfort. Finding that balance. Balance is key,” Karat said.
The club has many female members.
“On the meydan [field], and in Islam generally, we honour women. We are very big on this,” said Karat.
“On the okmeydan [arrow field] everybody should be equal … you are only judged by how well you shoot and how much knowledge in archery you have. Not by your gender, or by your race, or the colour of your skin, or who your family is.”
Karat would like to see the revival of traditional Ottoman archery as a way of self-development, and as a way of life.
“Archery, horsemanship, wrestling, swimming and running. These are sports that are noble in our religion, and encouraged,” he said.
“They cultivate important faculties in our youth. Especially to do with the mind – focus, patience, controlling your anger, and different aspects that our kids really need today.”
Asked for his final thoughts, Karat said: “We all came from somewhere … so we all bring something to this country … bring something beneficial. Come and beautify your meydan, your community, your archery club. Make it more rich, make it more beautiful with your presence.
“Rather than bringing negative things, I would like to see people bring more positivity, open mindedness to the meydan, to the field of archery.”
Featured image: Archers on the okmeydan (arrow field). Photo: Robert Hentschel.
