0
Matadors and Bull Fighting
Bull fighting is a popular extreme sport practiced in Spain, and has also been brought over to Mexico by the Spanish conquistadors that came to the Americas in the late 15th century. It is a blood-sport strongly opposed by animal rights groups that pits man (the Matador) against beast (the bull that is bred to fight) and always results in a fight to the death. Questions about Matadors, bull fighting and fighting bulls can be asked and answered here.
261 Questions
Where is the oldest bullring in Spain?
The oldest, and most beautiful bullring, is in Ronda, a province in Andalucia (southern Spain)... there are several in Spain and Mexico
Why did Cristina Sanchez the famous bullfighter become interested in bullfighting?
No way, Jose! There have been several. Seniorita Sanchez is fairly modern. there were, before her, Juanita Cruz and Conchita Cintron, Ms Cintron only died a couple of years ago, of natural causes.
What does the red cape stand for in bullfighting?
It is usaully red, or pink and yellow.
But it doesn't really matter because bulls are colourblind
What does it mean when the bull fight cuts off the ear of the bull?
It is a symbolic trophy for the matador. If he puts on a good performance he may be awarded an ear. A very good performance will earn two ears. A superior performance and the matador will be awarded both ears and the tail. An super excellent performance and the bull may receive an indulto (pardon) and this reflects on both the matador, the bull and the bull ranch that produced the bull.
There have been a few occurrences in the past where a matador has been awarded two ears, a tail and a hoof but this is a rarity.
In the earlier years of bullfighting, matadors were not well paid. If they were awarded an ear it meant that they could claim the meat from the dead bull after the fight.
How fast can a Miura bull run at top speed?
A miura bull is a bull from Spain that fights. It is the typical Spanish bull fighter. A miura bull can run at most a top speed of 69 Km per hour.
Who is more important in a bullfight?
There are many important participants in a bullfight but the main ones are the matador and the bull. Without either of these there could be no bullfight.
Colitas may refer to the customary pigtail worn by matadores in the past. The word means 'little tail' in Spanish. It was a mark of their profession. Few have them today and, if they do, they are usually clip ons and not real, only worn during a bullfight.
What do people think of the bullfighting in England?
They think it is very cruel to animals.
It has been said that 'the British are a nation of animal lovers', which is much closer to the truth, and in general, most would be opposed to cruelty of animals (though turn a convenient 'blind eye' towards abattoir's, etc). In turn, most would find the practice of bullfighting distasteful, to say the least. Many would voice this much more strongly, questioning whether a 'developed' country like Spain should be sanctioning bullfighting, regardless of whether or not it may be a Spanish 'tradition'.
How many matadors have been killed?
533 professional bullfighters have been killed since 1700, of which 79 have been matadors (the others are picadors, banderilleros and novilleros). Full lists, including names and histories are available via my post on the subject on my blog, The Last Arena.
Alexander Fiske-Harrison
Author of 'Into The Arena: The World Of The Spanish Bullfight' (shortlisted for Sports Book Of The Year, 2011)
What is the thing that matadors swing?
Are you referring to the cape used by the matador in a fight? There are two capes used:
capote - large violet or rose cape used in the first parts of the bullfight.
muleta - a smaller red cape used in the final stage of the bullfight.
Do they use the meat of bulls killed in bullfighting?
Yes they do. It may be sold or donated to charity. It is not wasted.
What happens when you wave a red flag at a bull?
It's not the color but the movement that attracts the bull. Contrary to myth, bulls are not colorblind. A bull's vision is dichromatic, meaning they can see in two main colors. These bulls are usually trained to be aggressive so that when they see movement, they will attack.
The matador, the torero who kills the bull, is the star of the bullfight.
Did bullfighting originate in Spain?
Yes and no. The modern form of fighting bulls on foot with a cape did originate in Spain in the early 18th century. However, other forms of bullfighting have been going on since the early days of the Roman Empire.
How is a bull weakened before a bullfight begins?
The bull is not weakened before it enters the ring. Once in the ring the picadores will try to weaken the tossing muscle some so that the bull concentrates its charge more and is not so prone to tossing its head.
Why are bulls used in a bullfight?
Because its called a bull fight and they wouldn't use sheep or goats in a bullfight.
because it would be silly not to use bulls in fights with the word bull in the name.
