Corrida de Toros (Bull-Fighting) in Pictures

The Team of Torreros (Bull Fighters)

The Matador Dressed in gold, he is the principal bull fighter, normally seasoned and often famous.
The Banderilleros Named after "banderilla" (the short pike they used against the bull) these are less experienced helpers of the matador. They are 3 of them in a corrida, dressed in silver.
The Picadores Two men on horseback who briefly fight the bull with lances.

The course of Corrida (Bull Fight)

1. The bull is released into the ring and is skirmished by the matador and his 3 banderilleros. This stage of the corrida lets the team learn the fighting tendencies of the bull.
2. The matador moves with the bull one-to-one, to further understand the type of bull he is fighting.
3. The picadores (pikemen) wound the bull with lances to damage his neck muscles and make him loose blood. This weakens the bull for the matador.
4. The banderilleros stick 6-8 short decorative pikes into the bull's neck to further damage his muscles and nerves and cause more loss of blood.
5. The main part of the bull fight - the matador performs his play with the cape one-to-one with the wounded bull. It is also the longest stage of the corrida.
6. The matador goes for the kill - he sinks a sword between the bull's shoulder blades.
7. The banderilleros come out and all 4 men make the bull move from side to side, causing the sword in his body to sever his internal organs. This finishes off the bull fight.
8. Once the bull is on the floor, a banderillero severs the spinal cord in his neck with a dagger. This finally incapacitates the bull, although it will still take some minutes for him to die.
9. The bull is dragged from the arena by a cart. Sometimes he is still conscious.

Sounds brutal? It is. If you are not sure whether you want to see it - read this.

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