When I watched the first bull going through the ritual, I was definitely squeamish and disturbed. As the fights progress, however, I saw it more as a dance and joined in with the cheering/booing crowds. Furthermore, having gone to both the amateur and professional bullfights, I learned a little bit more about the art of bullfights.
First, the bull is let into the ring, full of energy and anger from being starved and locked up. Each bull is no less than 450 kg. In fact, the ones we saw were at least 480-520kg, huge beasts!To tire the bull, 6 assistants wave magenta and yellow capotes ("dress cape") to run the bull from corner to corner and sometimes into the walls.
Next, 2 horses with full padding and an armored rider (picador) comes out into the ring, ready to further agitate the bull and injure him with a lance to his back.
In the next stage, the tercio de banderillas ("third of flags"), 3 banderilleros(the assistants) take turns piercing the bull's back with barbed sticks to further anger and weaken the bull.
In the final segment of the ritual, the matador takes center stage with a sword and red cape and proceeds to do a graceful dance with the bull, proceeding to show his control over the bull's actions and to weaken the bull further. The matador then maneuvers the bull into a position where he can stab his sword through the bull's back and heart in one move.
If the matador performs well, the crowd will wave white handkerchiefs at the presiding dignitary to award the matador an ear of the bull, or two if the matador performed exceptionally well. In the professional matches we saw, one matador was awarded one ear during his first match and then 2 ears during his second match.
Although I had to get used to the first few bulls and the blood being spilled, I'm glad I had a chance to experience such an important piece of Spanish culture and am looking forward to Pamplona where I can further enrich my experience of the Running of the Bulls! :D - Bing
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