The Anatomy of a Bullfight
Juanjo and I got a chance to actually meet up on Sunday and went to a bull fight at Las Ventas. Las Ventas is the largest bull fighting ring in the world. If you get the chance I highly suggest going to a fight. During the high season in the summer and the Feria, bull fights are held everyday. Earlier and later in the season fights are held weekly. As this was the second to last fight of the year, the crowd was small and the matadores novices.
Before I go into the best translation of a bull fight possible thanks to the great commentary by Juanjo, I would like to warn those faint of heart, queasy at bloody images, or PETA lovers to skip over this entry and not look at the pictures. You may have your personal opinions on the treatment of animals, but I will try my best to present the fight as it is done in the hopes you will become more aware of its complexities and nuances….and not ramble too much.
Almost all fights involve 6 bulls, and will last at least a couple hours. There are can be anywhere from 1-3 matadores who will fight 6 – 2 bulls each respectively. The fight I went to also had picadores, who are horsemen who aid in the fight and three matadores. The event is started by a procession of all the men involved from the horsemen to the clean-up crew. They will walk over to the president’s box and ask for permission to start the event. There are numerous matadores in the ring at the beginning. Some of them will be trying to help the bull, while others will not. For the first few minutes they will be running the bull around the ring to tire him out for the safety of both the bull and matadore.
After a few trumpets blasts two picadores enter the ring. They have to stay outside the white ring on the ground. During this time the silver colored men (helping the bull) will try to lure the bull into the middle of the ring, and the gold men (against) will try to lure him towards the picadores at the edge. Eventually, the bull is allowed to charge the picadores and the heavily armoured horse and near sumo like picadore will spear the bull in the high shoulder area. Their main goal is to tire the bull out by bleeding him.
After several minutes of this, the picadores must leave the stadium. At this time, the silver colored men will “energize” the bull by placing small spears in the middle of the back. These are used to release endorphins and adrenaline. They will try to place these along the spine. There is a rule in place that they can take as long as needed to place no more than six of these on the bull. The men will do this by standing in front of the bull with two spears and jump to the side at the last second while placing them as close to the spine as possible. In some cases, an older experienced matador will come out to test the bull and see how he will behave.
At this point the matadore will enter the ring and ask the president for permission to fight the bull. In a good fight, the matadore will go to the center of the ring to celebrate the killing of the bull with the entire audience. Sometimes they will then throw their hat over their shoulder. If it lands top down its good luck, and if it lands top up its bad luck. Other times they will hand their hat to a friend or loved one. By doing this, they are saying they are dedicating the death of the bull to that person.
At this time, all other men leave the arena and the matadore and bull will begin their dance. There are many different styles of fighting. In one, the matadore will stay in place and wave the pennant over the top of the bull as he charges without moving his lower body. Other styles involve moving around the bull and having it run around him. This style can be done naturally, or with the use of the sword to extend the pennant farther away from the fighter.
This dance will continue with some help from the audience. One section of the stadium always cheers for the bull. Everyone else will cheer for the matadore primarily. A good fight involves a slow dance where the bull is still dangerous and powerful but is lead slowly around by the red pennant. The fighter is trying to make the bull look graceful, and keep his pennant as close to the bull’s horns without letting it touch. After each successful pass, the crowd shouts “Ole!” This is the highlight of the fight, and is the best known part. When the fighter is done with his dance, and everyone is satisfied that both the fighter and bull have danced to the best of their ability the matadore will hopefully complete his last act correctly: the kill.
The matadore will set the bull up so that he charges with his head low. He is aiming for a very small hole in the bull’s back. When done correctly, the sword will go into the bull down to the hilt and pierce the heart. The bull lies down very soon, and the men will use a dagger to cut the brain stem immediately afterwards. Once the bull is dead, a triad of ornate horses are rushed out, and the bull is dragged out within seconds. The ground crew will then rake the sand out and cover up the blood.
Unfortunately, it is a small hole, and I only saw it happen correctly once. If the matadore misses the first time, he has 15 minutes to kill the bull. If that is not done, the bull will be ushered out to be killed. Usually what happens is the sword will stick just off and about halfway in. The other men will come out and help distract the bull as the matadore is not allowed to use another sword. Once he has extracted the sword, he will try again. During this time, or after a miss, the crowd will start cheering for the bull. Most commonly, this is done by whistling. After a few minutes pass, trumpets will sound. This is the matador’s first of three warnings and lets him know he now has 12 minutes. Thankfully, I never heard the six minute trumpet warning.
If a matadore does everything correctly, he has the opportunity to win a piece of the bull. After the kill, the audience will petition the president by waving white hankerchiefs in the air. If he agrees, he will allow the matadore to receive an ear of the bull. If he does and extremely good job, the crowd will continue to cheer, and he can get another ear. After a great fight, the tail is then also given. When you look at the records of matadores, they will say how many ears and tails they have received and a total number of fights.
The bull also has the chance to live. If a particular bull has shown great elegance, power, and strength. The crowd will wave a non-white hankerchief before the matadore’s final stroke. If the president approves, the bull is allowed to live, and the matadore will just simulate the kill. This enables good bulls to procreate, and they are allowed to lives their days in verdant pastures.
As I reflect on the closest live event I will hopefully ever see to a gladiator fight. I have come away, not signing up for PETA protests, but with great respect for the matadores and this tradition. Although the bull is killed in a not so efficient and humane way, there is a chance the matadore can be killed in the ring. I was talking to some other travelers who watched one matadore get a crushed skull, and another lose his testicles.
The dance between the bull and matadore seemed to be more a display of the talent and beauty of the bull before being killed. The purpose of the matadore is to lead the bull, and guide it. So I find myself appreciating the talent of a good matadore to be able to read a bull, and know how to bring out his best characteristics, be it by a different style, or subtle changes in movement. Yes, the bull may suffer more before being killed, but unlike the endless number of animals which are killed for our consumption out of sight, the people have the chance to more fully appreciate and know this animal. So many of us have never seen or truly understand the life we are ending before selfishly indulging.
I’ve been doing some reading along the way, and this short bit seemed aptly related. If you have any suggested reading for me along the way, please feel free to pass on the info.
Related Reading: Jack Keraouc “Lonesome Traveler” – Bullfight in Mexico while high on Opium.
Videos Posted from the Bullfight.
