Bullfighting

A sport which involves a physical competition between a bull and a human is bullfighting. In this sport, humans attempt to subdue, immobilize or kill a bull, mostly according to the set guidelines, rules or cultural expectations. Although the most common and well-known form is the Spanish-style bullfighting, there are various forms in different locations around the world. Some of the forms of the sport involve dancing around or over a bull or cow or an attempt to grasp an object from the animal.

The sport is a traditional event of many countries like Spain, Portugal, parts of southern France, Tanzania and India (Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu) few of the Latin American countries. In Spain, the sport is known as "La fiesta nacional" which means "the national festival". In some places, bullfighting is considered as a cruel, barbaric blood sport in which the bull may die in a slow, torturous death at the end. So, it is now banned in many countries.

History

The sport has its roots to the prehistoric bull worship and sacrifice in the Mediterranean region and Mesopotamia while the Epic of Gilgamesh may be the first recorded bullfight in which Enkidu and Gilgamesh fought and killed the Bull of Heaven.

The traditional bullfighting is often linked with Rome as animal vs human fights were prominent. Later on, these games spread to the regions of Africa, Asia and Europe. BY the 19th century, the bullfighting got popularised in many countries. The credit to inventing the modern bullfighting goes to  Juan Belmonte who is considered as the greatest matador of all times. He introduced a unique style of staying a few centimetres away from the raging bull which became very popular. Even today, many matadors try to impersonate his style during their bullfights.

Variants

Although there are various fighting styles famous in different regions of the world where bullfighting is practised, the most prominent amongst them is the Spanish, Portuguese and the French style. Here we are going to elaborate the Spanish Style. 

Spanish Style

This style is colloquially known as "corrida de toros" which means "Running of the Bulls". Traditionally, there are three matadores, and each of them fights with two bulls of the age ranging from four to six years old, weighing not less than 460 kg. Each of the matadores is assisted with six picadores who are actually lancers on horseback.   

In the Spanish Bullfighting style; there are three stages of the fight.

• Each stage begins with a bugle sound.The participants entered the arena in a parade along with the band of music. Post this; the bull is released into the ring where its ferocity is tested with the cape of magenta and gold. The matador confronts the bull with the cape and performs a series of passes. After this, the picador enters the arena with the lance known as vara and stabs on the mound of muscle behind the neck of the bull.
• In the next stage which is known as "Tercio de Banderillas", the banderillas (the assistants of the matador who hold the banderillas, the sharped edged sticks) attempts to plunge the banderillas to the bull's shoulders.
• The final stage is known as "Tercio de Muerte" in which the matador re-enters alone into the ring with a smaller red cloth and a sword. The matador uses the red colour cloth to entice the bull by its movement, to mask the bull's blood and create thrill amongst the audience. After a series of passes, the matador eventually stabs the sword between the shoulder blades. The fight demands the death of the bull, but it requires a lot of efforts to make the giant surrender in the ring. On winning the battle, the matador is awarded one or both ears of the bull as a mark of his bravery. There are cases when the bull fights phenomenally and is granted life, returning live from the ring and send for treatment.