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Bullfighting

Bullfighting is a sport that has existed in various forms since time immemorial. The oldest reference to bullfighting has been found in Crete in a wall painting that dates back to 2000 BC. The painting depicts both males and females grappling with a bull. The sport was popular in ancient Rome too. It was also very popular with the Moors from North Africa. They added skill to it by confronting the bulls while seated on horses. With time, men on foot were also brought in. They would use their capes to draw the bull’s attention and thus help those seated on the horses to position the bulls properly.

The event
An event in bull fighting is referred to as a ‘corrida.’ One corrida entails the participation of six bulls and three matadors. A time span of fifteen minutes is allotted to each encounter. Prior to the event, the matadors march through the ring prior in their resplendent costumes, followed by their assistants.

The cape
As soon as a bull enters the ring, the matador starts his maneuvers with a large cape. An erroneous assumption that is generally made is that bulls react to the color red aggressively. That is however not true. Bulls are color blind and whether the cape is red or blue or any other color for that matter, they will react in a similar fashion. The reason they react wildly to the swaying cape is because the matador keeps it moving and the bull instinctively charges towards a moving target. Another factor that plays a part here is the breeding of these animals. The breeding inculcates in them the instinct to charge at a moving object. The same instinct is not there in a domestic bull.

Bullfighting

The rules
Various rules and regulations are followed for a bullfighting event. If the matador is a beginner then the bull assigned to him will be around three years old. However, experienced matadors are assigned older bulls that are at least four years of age.

Picadors are another essential part of a bullfighting event. They enter the ring mounted on horses and bearing lances. They are also clad in elaborately prepared costumes. The picadors are allowed a specified number of chances that is decided upon by someone in authority.

Another participant is the banderillero who works on foot. They are clad in an almost similar fashion as the matador, though there are minute differences in their dress to help identify them. The banderilleros place what are referred to as banderillas on the bull’s shoulders. Banderillas are barbed sticks decorated gaily. The placing of the banderillas is the last but one event in the fight. The trumpet that signals the end of the banderillero's function also indicates the beginning of the final phase of the fight.

In the last phase the matador uses a smaller cape. This reduces the size of the moving target and also brings the matador into full view of the charging animal. The next step is the final killing of the animal. The manner of killing is specified - the bull should be pierced between its shoulder blades. For this the matador needs to hurtle over the bull’s horns and sink his blade between the shoulder blades. Several years of training and strict discipline go into the preparation for this moment as one wrong move could result in the matador’s death.

WiseDude.com Bullfighting

Bullfighting

WiseDude.com
Bullfighting