The muleta (scarlet cloth folded over a wooden stick) is the tool used by the matador to perform the passes during the tercio de muerte, also called tercio de muleta (last stage of the lidia). Only matadors are allowed to use the muleta, although a subalterno can replace them if they suffer an accident and cannot kill the bull. Is the more artistic stage of the faena.
The muleta (literally the prop). It is a scarlet cloth folded over a wooden stick (and sometimes also over the sword). It is used by the diestro to dominate the bull and force him to gore in artistic passes. The wooden stick used to fold it is called estaquillador and is made of beech wood. The muleta can also be called franela, lienzo, muletilla or pañosa. The size of this bullfighting tool will vary according to the personal preferences of the matador. Normally, the tip of the cloth is supposed to touch the ground while bullfighting.
Most usual passes performed with the muleta
- Pase natural (Natural Pass): A very classical pass performed using only the left hand. When the bull gores, the matador twists slightly and pushes his left arm and the muleta backwards, creating a circle effect with the cloth. His feet must move fast, allowing him to perform several consecutive naturales
- Derechazo (Right Hand Pass): Same as the natural but performed with the right hand and normally folding the muleta also over the sword
- Pase de pecho (Breast Pass): A very usual way to finish a serie (round) of passes. It is performed raising the hand with the muleta to the height of the breast, thus forcing the bull to gore upwards.
- Manoletina: The matador grasps the cloth of the muleta with both hands, one of them behind his back.
The bull will attack the bullfighter, who will stand still as a statue while the animal gallops very close to his body. This pass is named after the famous matador Manolete.
The bull will attack the bullfighter, who will stand still as a statue while the animal gallops very close to his body. This pass is named after the famous matador Manolete.
- Trincherazo: In this pass the matador moves the muleta slowly and very close to the ground and then removes the cloth very fast in the face of the bull.
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