Bull fighting is an art more than a sport

Meeting a great Mexican bull fighter, That has killed more than 500 bulls at fights.

by Nimal Sedera

Bull fighting is a popular art in some countries of the world. This sport born in Greece and then spread to Spain was something confined to the royal family and was classified as royal sport. We in the South East Asian region

 where non violence is practised never see Bull fighting in real other than in films.

Thanks to our son Sanjeewa in USA, when we visited Mexico/Rostarica city we were introduced to one time Mexico's most popular bull fighter Ruddolfo Adam who is now in his seventies. Rodolfo officially retired from bull fighting in 1987 but even two years ago he was fighting a bull for a fund raiser for a school.

Adam is a steady man smartly dressed and only five feet one inch tall. I tickled him to speak and quite effectively succeeded. He is now a real estate broker and we were soon in his office on the main street of the Rostarico city. More than the houses and properties to be sold what was on display on the walls were the large photographs, posters and many other materials related to bull fighting.

"I took up to bull fighting, when I was just fifteen years...... This is a very popular sport in Mexico...... not every one can become a bull fighter, it is for bold people. It is a life and death affair. I by nature like challenges, and my dream was to be a top bull fighter one day...... Mainly for the reason of fame and publicity. When you are a top bull fighter the entire country knows you...... As I, young man I liked it...."

The bulls are specially trained for fighting. The male calf is isolated from birth when it is classified good for bull fighting. They are taken to the jungle and grown with only the master attending the feeding. It has no human or animal association. So the animal is very rough. They are well fed. A fighting bull reaches one thousand pounds weight within five years. Then it is fit to fight......

"In bull fighting if a bull fails in the fight it dies in the first fight itself. This is so very often,. In every bull fight there is a death. Either the bull or the fighter has to die,.... Advance notice is given of the bull fight in the media. People from near and far arrive to see the fight. It is a celebration for the entire city. The fighting is done in a special stadium. The bull is released to the ground amidst shout and the fighter is cheered."

"I see bull fighting as an art more than a sport. The fighter has only two instruments to win the fight and battle. They are the red cloth and spears from which you have to prick the bull as it charges. You have to hold the red cloth and deceive the bull by getting it to attack the cloth and not you.

There isn't much running. I keep my legs steady and only turn my body to stretch the red cloth. When the bull attacks the red cloth at full speed it becomes tired attacking the empty space. As it passes you have to prick hard on the back with the spears.

It will give lot of pain to the animal and blood will ooze out. It will then charge with more anger. The crowd will shout and cheer. The bull will make around fifty attacks before it gets tired.

By this time it has been pricked almost fifty times with the spears and lots of blood has gone and the animal begins to weak. The fighter knows it from the changing leg position of the bull and it is then the time to / cut the bull to death with the sword......"

Adam was demonstrating to us how to hold the red cloth to face the attack. He expressed how the spears are used and how the final sword cut is done...... He was like a dancer full of feelings and expressions. It reminded us our beloved Sri Lankan ballet dancer Mr. Vasantha Kumara.

"I have been injured twice in the ring very badly. Once my right jaw was injured. Yet I fought to the end and killed the bull. Then again once I fell and the bull attacked me and my head was injured. That day too I completed the fight killing the bull."

IN BULL FIGHTS HOW MANY BULLS HAVE YOU KILLED......? WAS MY CLOSING QUESTION......

There was no delay for the answer...... He said.."

I RETIRED AFTER FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY BULL FIGHTS, SO THE NUMBER OF BULLS I KILLED REMAIN FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY," Even after my retirement from professional bull fighting I have done about twenty five exhibition fights, Yes in every such fight the bull had to die.

"Later my son took up to bull fighting but after a couple of years he gave up...... I am very happy and proud to be a renowned bull fighter, it is a royal sport. It is a game of hero's and bold people......When you are next in Mexico lets go to see bull fighting.." was his final invitation.