RING MASTERS CENTURIES-OLD TRADITION OF BULLFIGHTING DEFENDED AS PRIMAL DUEL, DECRIED AS BRUTAL BLOOD SPORT.Byline: Story by IVAN OROZCO - Photos by MICHAEL OWEN
News TIJUANA, Mexico - Matador matador In bullfighting, the principal performer, who works the capes and attempts to dispatch the bull with a sword thrust between the shoulder blades. Most of the techniques used by modern matadors were established in the 1910s by Juan Belmonte (b. 1894–d. Omar Villasenor ran his fingers through his slick black hair, dusted off his hat and basked in the adulation ad·u·la·tion n. Excessive flattery or admiration. [Middle English adulacioun, from Old French, from Latin ad of the cheering crowd. Moments before, the Mexican bullfighter had been tossed into the air and spun around on the impressive horns of a half-ton bull named Pingalin. Bleeding from an ugly gash in his thigh, the 23-year-old matador continued his aggressive duel with the bull, ultimately ending in its death. Among the fans applauding Villasenor were members of Los Aficionados de Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , a close-knit club that travels regularly from Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, to watch thecenturies-old -- and always controversial -- tradition of bullfighting bullfighting, national sport and spectacle of Spain. Called the corrida de toros in Spanish, the bullfight takes place in a large outdoor arena known as the plaza de toros. . "The music, the art and the atmosphere is what we enjoy most, not the actual killing of the bull," said Robert Garcia This is about the SNK character. For the politician from New York, see Robert Garcia (politician) Robert Garcia is a character in the King of Fighters video game series. , 49, of Whittier, who travels regularly with 25-year-old daughter Bobbie Castillo to the bullfights. "I've been coming here for 20 years now and I've been bringing my daughter with me since she was 7." Founded in 1949, Los Aficionados proclaims itself America's oldest bullfighting club. Many of its 150 members meet monthly at a restaurant on Olvera Street Olvera Street is in the oldest part of Downtown Los Angeles, California, and is otherwise known as the birthplace of the City of Angels or El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument and is a department within the city. in Los Angeles, where they share the latest bullfighting news, swap stores about previous corridas and watch videos of their favorite matadors. "This is the best way to stay close to something we love," said Dolores Dolores (or Delores) was a common given name (until the 1960s in the USA); it is cognate with the English word "dolorous" (meaning sorrowful) and equivalent in meaning. Merino Merino Breed of medium-sized sheep originating in Spain that has become prominent worldwide. It has a white face, white legs, and crimped fine-wool fleece. Known as early as the 12th century, it may have been a Moorish importation. Hofert, executive vide president of Los Aficionados. The group also includes former matador Paula Aguilar and her husband, David, of Sylmar, who often arrive several days early for the Tijuana bullfights. "We like to relax and get to know these matadors to see what type of attitude they have and what they might possibly bring to the ring," said David Aguilar, keeping his eye on Villasenor's match. "You see, this matador has shown a lot of courage against this bull, but he's making his passes too tight. That's why he got tossed around. I thought he would fight like this." Clubs like Los Aficionados are typically found in or near towns where bullfights are held. Although some Central California Central California can refer to one of several divisions or regions of the U.S state of California:
Bullfighting supporters downplay the inherent brutality of the event, in which lances and barbed sticks are used to weaken the animal before its final showdown with the matador. "If someone wants to see a man risk his life, people just turn on the television," said Jose Hurtado Lopez, owner of Plaza Monumental Tijuana, the bullfighting arena just 50 yards south of the U.S.-Mexico border. A former matador, Lopez also says bullfighting is important to the Mexican and Spanish cultures, a view shared by Los Aficionados members and other supporters of bullfighting. Critics, however, see the event in another light. "When these people raise animals with the sole purpose of selling them to be tortured and killed, when bullfighters The following is a list of noted bullfighters: Famous Toreros Colombia
"We cannot accept the belief that man has the right to torture an animal for such a futile reason as the amusement of crowds." Lopes' organization is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. based in Portugal, which is working to put an end to to destroy. - Fuller. See also: End bullfights in Europe, where killing the bull remains popular and legal. Lopes said they have "thousands" of members throughout the world trying to spread their message. Mike Brazell, a spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an international nonprofit organization that supports Animal Rights and has spawned a tremendous amount of conflict and controversy from its inception. , said bullfights are simply barbaric. "To say 'It's tradition' is wrong," he said. "Tradition doesn't justify cruelty." But those who enter the ring with the bull say it comes down to a test of themselves. "To me, the most beautiful thing about this is that you can create art when you feel fear and have certain sensations," said Villasenor, dressed in his traje de luces lu·ces n. A plural of lux. , a sparkling "suit of lights" inspired by 18th century Andalusian clothing. Villasenor said he'd long aspired to be a professional soccer player until he got the chance to "cape" young bulls at a party when he was 18. He changed career paths and, five years later, is considered an accomplished matador. "It's a feeling you can't get anywhere else," he said. "Scoring a goal in soccer or winning something else can't give you the same feeling you get when fighting a beast." Former matador Rosita Morales, who started an animal rescue shelter in Anaheim after retiring from bullfighting 30 years ago, has a more philosophical view. "Life's tossings and gorings are worse than the bull's," said Morales, 73. "It takes courage to rise and keep fighting. "Life is a bull, the world is a bullring, and we are all the bullfighters." ivan.orozco(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 Corrida de Toros Toros,a version of Greek word Taurus, may refer to:
Bullfighting generates heated debate, with supporters arguing that it is an important cultural tradition and critics decrying it as a blood sport that brutalizes animals. Here's a look at the three phases, or tercios, involved in each bullfight. As the matador observes the bull's behavior, two picadores armed with lances enter the arena on horseback. The picadores stab the bull's muscular neck to lower the animal's blood pressure. Bulls often charge a picador's horse, which is protected by heavy padding. Three bandilleros try to plant two barbed flags into the bull's flanks, weakening its neck and shoulder muscles through blood loss. The matador enters the ring with a sword and a traditional red cape. He uses his cape to taunt the bull in a series of close passes, demonstrating his control over the beast. The matador's work with the cape and sword is called faena fa·e·na n. The series of final passes performed by a matador preparatory to killing a bull in a bullfight. [Spanish, manual labor, from Catalan feyna, from Latin facienda, , which ends with the bull being stabbed between the shoulder blades and through the aorta or heart. The bull's body is dragged from the arena by three mules. In a small room behind the stadium, it is butchered and its meat sold to carnicerias, or butcher shops. CAPTION(S): 8 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) Bullfighter Rafael Ortega, with a leap, raises banderillas to stab the bull Universario in the back at a bullfight at Plaza Monumental in Tijuana, Mexico. (2 -- color) The bandilleros and toreros wait to enter the bullring at Plaza Monumental in Tijuana. Some love the spectacle of the bullfight, while others say it's animal abuse. (3) Bullfighter Omar Villasenor is tossed into the air by a bull during the bullfights at Plaza Monumental in Tijuana. Villasenor suffered a cut on the back of his thigh, but returned to the ring to slay slay tr.v. slew , slain , slay·ing, slays 1. To kill violently. 2. past tense and past participle often slayed Slang the bull. (4) Bullfighter Fernando Ochoa acknowledges the crowd's applause as he parades around the bull ring at the Plaza Monumental in Tijuana. (5) Members of Los Aficionados de Los Angeles, a bullfight club in Los Angeles, applaud a bullfighter's performance and watch for the judge's reaction. (6) A dead bull is dragged out of the stadium by three mules to a nearby building, where it is butchered and the meat is sold to carnicerias or butcher shops. (7) Bullfighter Omar Villasenor fends off the bull's horns after being knocked to the ground during a bullfight in Tijuana. (8) At the Paseo Inn restaurant on Olvera Street, members of Los Aficionados de Los Angeles bullfight club toast the 60th anniversary of the death of famed bullfighter Manolete, who died after being gored. Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer Box: Corrida de Toros (see text) |
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