Bullfight

Bullfighting is one of the prized traditions of the Spanish culture and is known world-wide. API gave us the opportunity to go with other students in our program and experience a bullfight this past Monday, in what ended up being a very memorable experience for me.

Sevilla's bullfighting ring, Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza, is where bullfighting began. Built in 1749, it's the oldest bullfighting ring in the world, and its atmosphere was second to none. We arrived for the 6:30pm bullfight around 6:20, and before we knew it a brass band was playing to us while all of the matadors came out and were introduced. It was a very traditional ceremony - unlike any American events, there were no microphones, no announcers, simply a band to play in between rounds and a trumpeter to signal when the next stage of fighting would commence.

For those of you who are as unfamiliar with bullfighting as I am, I'll give a brief summary. There are 6 rounds in each bullfight, with 3 matadors competing. Each matador gets 2 rounds to perform, and the matador who the crowd thinks is best at the end wins the prize (which we'll get to in a second). There are 4 stages to each round (or each bull). Warning - the process of a bullfight isn't for the weak at heart.

First, the bull comes out of the pen, angry and ready to run around. The matador and a few other assistants, called banderilleros, get the bull tired while the matador observes the movements and tendencies of the bull.

In between each section, a sound of trumpets signals the next stage by playing a short and simple tune for about 20 seconds.

Second, 2 horses with men and spears come out, and make the first blows to the bull, usually near the bull's neck. This causes massive blood loss in the bull and starts making it weaker.

Third, the 3 banderilleros tempt the bull with their capes again and then attempt to stick the bull with these sticks with sharp metal ends to them, which both angers the bull and causes fatigue to its body from the loss of even more blood.

Fourth, the matador shows what he is made of. With a run-down but angered bull in which he has had time to study its tendencies, the matador uses his techniques to have the bull follow his red cape around him. The longer the bull follows the cape, the better of a fighter the matador is considered to be, and the more excited the crowd gets. In the earlier stages, the crowd remains silent out of respect, but when the matador is up people start shouting "bien...biEN...BIEN!!"

Before you know it, the matador is ready to make the bull his ultimate victim by killing it. The matador takes his sword, lunges towards the bull, and tries to make a clean stab right behind the head. If he succeeds, the bull will quickly fall to its knees and someone will come out and use a dagger to remove it from its misery. If not, then the matador has to try again, losing him dear points.

In my particular fight, the crowd started waving white handkerchiefs and flags, which I later found out meant that they were petitioning for the last matador to be awarded a high honor. If they crowd waves white flags, it signifies that they want the president to give the matador an ear of the bull. The matador was awarded with two ears, which is a huge honor. After the fight was over, he circled the arena to a standing ovation and women throwing roses into the ring.

I really enjoyed my experience at the bullfight. Some people think that it's simply a bloodbath of torturing animals, but I chose to take the perspective that it's a Spanish tradition and art. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the music, the costumes of the matadors, and seeing something that is so popular around the world.

Brad.