Banderillas

Presentation

The banderillas are generally planted by the peones called Banderillero S , but some Matador S plant them themselves. It is currently the case, inter alia, of Luis Francisco Esplá, “El Fundi”, Luis Miguel Encabo and “El Fandi”.

In theory, it is planted three pairs of banderillas. However, the president of the race can decide to reduce the number of it; the matador can request from the president the authorization that a fourth is planted.

Various methods

There exist very many manners of posing the banderillas. Most frequent are “Al cuarteo” (“with the quarter”) and “of poder has poder” (“of power with power”). In both cases, the Banderillero is placed vis-a-vis the bull, starts its load by movements of the arms and cries, then goes to the meeting of the bull while following a curved trajectory, the bull following itself a curved trajectory; with the meeting, it poses the banderillas and is released from a variation. The difference between the two comes from the length from the respective trajectories from the bull and the banderillero , much longer in the second case, so that with the meeting, the bull accelerated its speed to the maximum, whereas in the first case, with the meeting, its speed is still reduced.

Most spectacular are undoubtedly the following ones:

“Al sesgo para will fuera”, the banderillero poses the banderillas while passing in front of the bull stopped near the barrier, by leaving the bull between him and the barrier;
“Al sesgo para dentro”, the manner is identical, except that the banderillero passes between bull and barrier;
“Al quiebro”, the motionless banderillero starts the load of the bull; one moment before the meeting it makes mine leave on its right-sided by marking a step on side which causes to deviate the course of the bull slightly; the banderillero benefits then from this light variation made by the bull towards outside to regain its initial position and to pose the banderillas.
“Al violín”, the two banderillas are posed held in the only right hand, the banderillero making charge the bull on its left side, so that to pose them, it makes pass the banderillas over its left arm, a little like the bow of the violin.

Colors

The Couleur S of the banderillas are varied. The French matadors often use banderillas Blanc hes; Luis Francisco Esplá uses systematically banderillas Bleu sky and white, colors of its birthplace: Alicante. The peones use banderillas of the color that one gives them.

There exist also banderillas known as “black” (actually they are Noir are with a white band). These banderillas are used when the bull showed an obvious lack of bravery and are a sign of infamy for the stockbreeder. Even when it would be justified, their use is exceptional.

Utility

The role of the banderillas is discussed. According to some they would be used to make it possible the bull to rest after the test of the spade. One can obviously wonder whether it is to make it rest that to oblige it to gallop with the continuation of the banderilleros . According to others, they would be used to return “courage” to the bull after its useless combat against the picador, while making him continue the banderilleros which “flee” with its approach instead of awaiting it firm footing as the picador and its horse do it.

The most probable assumption is that they are not used for nothing, they are only one survival of the old bullfighting. Formerly (i.e. before the 19th century), the bullfighting consisted, before the setting with died of the bull, to jump to him over, of firm footing or to the pole; to be made charge by him and to avoid it by a variation; to pose rosettes or ribbons to him on the horns and to withdraw them then; finally to pose banderillas to him on the back. These different suertes continues to exist (except the banderillas) in the Course camarguaise, the Course landaise or the race of '' recortadores ''. On the other hand, they disappeared from the formal bullfight since the middle of the 19th century, only remaining of the old bullfighting the installation of the banderillas.

Bullfight of rejón

With the first tercio of the bullfights of rejón are posed Farpa S , kinds of banderillas whose handle is much longer than the handle of those used in the bullfight with foot (approximately 1,60 meter). With the second tercio are posed banderillas similar to those used in the bullfight with foot.

Gallery

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