CHAPTEH
Capteh is a traditional game that requires great dexterity and balance
in keeping a feathered shuttlecock in the air for as long as possible by
kicking it up with the heel of the foot. A popular game that is also well known internationally.
HISTORY
The
earliest reference to a game of kicking a feathered object dates back to the
5th century BC in China. Later known as Ti Jian Zu or “kick little
shuttlecock”, the game was used to train military men. Shaolin monks in Henan
during the Tang Dynasty were also known to have practised the game to
strengthen their martial art skills. It remained popular for about two
millennia, from the Han (206 BC-200) until after the Sui and Tang dynasties.
During the Song Dynasty (960-1278), chien tsu (jianqiu) meaning “arrow” became
the game’s more popular name. The name is still used to refer to the
“shuttlecock” used in badminton.
In Singapore and Malaysia, the game is known as
capteh. The name is thought to be either Malay or Hokkien in origin. Variants
of the name include chapteh, chaptek and chatek.
HOW TO PLAY
The
game is played using an object also referred to as a capteh, a rubber disc
topped with rooster feathers. The game involves keeping the capteh in the air
for as long as possible by kicking it up using the heel of the foot until it is
missed or dropped. In the past, homemade capteh were made of old tyre tubes and
discarded feathers. The game can be played individually or in a team.
When
played in a small group, players are judged individually on the number of kicks
they make. The players agree on a winning tally of kicks, and the first person
in the group to reach that tally, or the player with the highest score in the
group, is considered the winner. To decide who plays first, each player kicks
the capteh using their heel and without putting the foot down. The one with the
highest score before the capteh falls to the ground or their foot touches the
ground is the one who starts first. For the game proper, the player kicks the
capteh until he misses it or loses his footing. The player is able to put his
foot down with each kick. However, he is not allowed to use his hands to touch
the capteh.
Source : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btjgmI8MudA
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