Lajos Kassai has been involved in equestrian shooting since the 1980s, which has now grown into an international sport thanks to his work. Kasai-based archery centers currently operate in 16 countries within the World Horse Shooting Federation, where the eponymous rules system provides students with the right framework to practice this particular sport. Miklós Kásler and Lajos Kassai signed the collaboration at the impressive, antiquated Knight’s Hall a few days ago, and then a press conference was held.
Hungarian horse archery
– The Hungarian Research Institute contacted me with the intention of working together – the show began Lagos Kasai. – The canyon has existed for 35 years, and next year we will celebrate by organizing the 30th horse shooting competition. This is also appropriate for this handshake, because everything that is summed up in Hungarian culture and in the field of science reaches different parts of the world through martial arts and sports. You spread this culture, that’s why you got the title of culture knight and that’s why your equestrian archery became galactic. This cooperation will be about the fact that actors dealing with culture and spreading culture need the support that only science can create – summed up the archer of chivalry. Then Miklos Kassler, Director General of the Hungarian Research Institute, spoke about the purpose of establishing the Institute, which clarifies the questions related to the origin of the Hungarians and the events of the Hungarian history. – Miklós Kassler noted that the mission of the Institute is to communicate these findings to the Hungarian nation and to the whole world. – Good results have been achieved in archeology and classical philology in the field of linguistic research. Lajos Kasai created the conditions in the valley 1,100 years ago, during the time of Árpad, that reflect and validate in practice how our ancestors lived, what their lifestyle was like, how they saw the world, and how the foundations of Hungarian tradition and culture were formed in all areas of the arts. That is why we decided to contact him and, in addition to congratulating him, ask him to spread basic knowledge about Hungarian to the wider world. To my great pleasure he said yes, the professor said, and I am sure this relationship will be fruitful.
cooperation
After the press conference, Miklós Kásler answered our question why he considers this agreement important. He said that an integral part of the scientific part of researching Hungarians is to be able to spread the word about everything in the world, to learn about validated, fact-based knowledge about Hungarians. An integral part of this is the very way of life, tools and weapons that laid the foundation for martial arts, which have dominated all events in Europe for at least a hundred years. – Lajos Kassai rediscovered the technology of this way of life, the weapons and their operation, the complex process of the recoil bow, the training, the material and the trajectory of the arrow – confirmed Miklós Kásler. Then he talked about how their collaboration was achieved in practice:
– The Hungarian Research Institute will provide the scientific background for the events in Lagos-Kasai. Cooperation applies to the investigation of scientific questions and the dissemination of knowledge in the world, but also applies to the compilation of various educational films, programs and publications, and the establishment of scientific conferences.
he added.
We chatted with Lagos Kasai on the way to the racetrack, while World Cup preparations were going on all around.
When we got there, American, South African and Canadian archers were practicing in the inner field. – The races start at the same time on all courses, and the 60 runners can start quickly, so the competition is held only on Friday and Saturday in the morning, and ends by Saturday noon, – emphasized the equestrian archer. – This meeting is not intended for competitions. The world’s international leaders gather here every two years, compete together and exchange experiences. They talk about professions, questions are raised about the horse, the bow and their lifestyle, and they talk about the challenges they face at home. This is a real big community, so competition has a bigger role in building the community. They are excellent competitors, so it is certain that the competition will be in a very good atmosphere – he said, and then also answered the question of what he expects from this settlement: – I believe in communication, I believe in the exchange of experiences and stressed that this can only strengthen us.
– I consider all this cooperation good and all opposition bad. The great problem of the nation is that the different cultural classes are so turned against each other that communication almost becomes a question.
What is expected? What I am most interested in is the specific historical research and wide spread of horse shooting culture by the establishment. The results they bring to the surface can easily reach any part of the world. Not through scientific forums, but through the human relationships that take place here. Lajos Kasai added that competitors from around the world are as interested in equestrian archery and Hungarian history as they are in Japanese history.
Cover photo: Lajos Kasai, archer (Photo: Zoltan Havran)
