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The most important part of the fight begins when
the matador takes up the muleta and the sword. But before he starts the
matador salutes the president or dedicates the death of the bull to a
person in the crowd. By watching the bull in the first parts, the
matador has an impression of the bull's characteristics. He begins to
play the bull with his 'muleta' in the so-called 'trastea'. The
muleta is the instrument which permits him to show his art. This then
evolves into the 'faena' as the matador works close to the bull,
preparing its death.
The classical movements in this part are called the 'natural' in which the muleta is held in the left hand and the 'derechazo' with the muleta and the sword in the right hand. A series of four or more movements is called a 'tanda' and is often followed by a 'pase de pecho' (a so-called breast pass) where the matador turns his back on the bull and lets him pass by lifting the muleta over the head of the bull until his tail is reached.
Now it is time for the crucial moment of the
fight. The 'Suerte Suprema'. The success of the matador depends on the
last moments. As a famous torero onced said: "Ears are won with the
muleta, but are cut with the sword."
Before he can kill the bull the matador has to 'igualar' the bull. This is to make sure that it stands with its four feet exactly together to easily let the sword enter between the opened shoulderblades. There are different ways to kill the bull: 'Volapié'. ('Flying feet') The matador lunges forward, between the horns, diverts the path of the attacking bull and places the sword. 'Recibiendo'. ('Receiving') The matador waits for the bull to attack and then inserts the sword. 'A un tiempo'. ('At the same time') Both matador and bull attack at the same time.
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'pase
de pecho' 
