To Egypt now, where an ancient martial art known as Tahteeb has been passed on from one generation to another over the centuries. It is now a UNESCO-recognized heritage sport. CGTN's Adel El Mahrouky has more on its modern form.

Estimated to be 5000 years old, Tahteeb was one of the most popular sports in Egypt. In the rural Egyptian south, it is known as "the pride of men". It's a bloody sticks martial art that in ancient times required inflicting serious injury to opponents, often ending in tragedy.

HANY HASSAN COACH, EGYPTIAN MODERN TAHTEEB "There are eight formations in Tahteeb, they are like Kata is Karate or styles in KungFu. Pointing systems is based on technique when performing these formations. Then in improvisation attacks, that's about the proper handling of the stick, defending a hit correctly and conducting one. It's usually a one on one game, but there is a defense mode, where there are more than one fighter attacking and the defender is credited with points."

Passed on from one generation to the other, Tahteeb has gradually evolved, from a military-type survival technique into a non-lethal sport.

HANY HASSAN COACH, EGYPTIAN MODERN TAHTEEB "Today if the stick touches the head, the player must freeze, and that's considered a knockout. It's forbidden to hit the joints or bones. Hitting must go to a muscular body part. In modern Tahteeb if the opponent's stick drops, that also an additional point. It's a very enjoyable game."

In 2016 UNESCO designated it as heritage sport. But there are fears the sport is fast fading away.

HANY HASSAN COACH, EGYPTIAN MODERN TAHTEEB "There are only five modern Tahteeb trainers in Egypt. I'm one of them. We try to preserve that heritage. Honestly, there is little interest in cities. There are still few festivals in upper Egypt but there is little interaction between us. Theirs are usually for stage performances."

Tahteeb's stick is much thicker and heavier that other stick martial arts that require great muscular control for an adrenaline sport. It's one of the seven oldest combat games in Egypt's earliest civilizations. Adel EL Mahrouky, CGTN, CA.