Log in to hire Eduardo

Eduardo Martins

Photographer

eduardo-martins.com

Tajen - Bali Cockfight

Follow Hire

A man waits to know if his coc...g to be the next one to fight.

1 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

A man waits to know if his cock is going to be the next one to fight.

The word rooster, 'sab... a warrior, champion, or hero.

2 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

The word rooster, 'sabung' in Balinese, takes on a phallic connotation. The word is also related to the idea of a warrior, champion, or hero.

Layed down on the motorcycle s...t used to movement and people.

3 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

Layed down on the motorcycle seat, smoking a cigarette, a man observes a player taking a rooster from the wicker cage. All over the island at the side of the roads, cages can be seen with roosters inside. The breeders claim that it's for the animals to get used to movement and people.

A man waits for his turn to pu...in which the two must compare.

4 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

A man waits for his turn to put his cock to fight. Both opposing animals must have the same size, color, plumage and strength. These are the four conditions in which the two must compare.

The bets per fight reach, on a...rs to assume combat positions.

5 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

The bets per fight reach, on average, 500 rupees (around 30 euros), and 50 rupees (3 euros) is the minimum amount for men and roosters to assume combat positions.

Before the fight, bets are wei...been those who have lost land.

6 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

Before the fight, bets are weighted, considered, the account taken of what you have, and how much you lost. A local man says that there have already been those who have lost land.

Two cocks fight in a dirt aren...the winner kills the opponent.

7 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

Two cocks fight in a dirt arena. The clash doesn't take more than a few minutes, the two animals become one before the winner kills the opponent.

Dozens of men while watching a...ation, only to make a new bet.

8 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

Dozens of men while watching are consumed by the adrenaline. Shouting, spitting and smoking, there's no place for contemplation, only to make a new bet.

At the end of the day, just be...rings a rooster under his arm.

9 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

At the end of the day, just before the sunset, two men arrive, in a scooter, at the small square in front of the Puseh temple, at Pladung village, in one of the poorest provinces of Bali, Karangasem. One of them brings a rooster under his arm.

In the arena, a man ties the &...ng the wrist of a box fighter.

10 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

In the arena, a man ties the 'taji' to the cock's left leg, sharp blade, in a half-moon, which determines, in each confrontation, the deadly outcome of one of the opponents. A man, wrap the 'taji' with a red ribbon, like the trainer preparing the wrist of a box fighter.

Leather case with taji, the ha...o kill and wound the opponent.

11 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

Leather case with taji, the half-moon blade wrapped on the rooster's leg to kill and wound the opponent.

In the arena, a man ties the &...ng the wrist of a box fighter.

12 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

In the arena, a man ties the 'taji' to the cock's left leg, sharp blade, in a half-moon, which determines, in each confrontation, the deadly outcome of one of the opponents. A man, wrap the 'taji' with a red ribbon, like the trainer preparing the wrist of a box fighter.

A man holds a rooster in his l... for violence and subjugation.

13 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

A man holds a rooster in his left hand, with the right one he checks his legs and with the right hand gently pulling their feathers, insistently, fanning the animal, awakening its primitive desire for violence and subjugation.

Dozens of men gather around th...way of affirmation of manhood.

14 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

Dozens of men gather around the arena, shouting, while the fight occurs. Outside the circle, a young boy tries to find a place to watch. The ritual operates a huge admiration and attraction in the youngsters. In a few years also they will be part of the game. This confronts are also a way of affirmation of manhood.

The nerves are on edge during ...t the outcome, the final move.

15 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

The nerves are on edge during the fight, all heads lean over the combat ring. The observers exclaim, shout, and expect the outcome, the final move.

The clash, of fast movements, ... minutes, with the two bodies.

16 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

The clash, of fast movements, between the two animals don’t take more than a few minutes, with the two bodies.

The clash, of fast movements, ... minutes, with the two bodies.

17 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

The clash, of fast movements, between the two animals don’t take more than a few minutes, with the two bodies.

With the hand, the owner of a ... ascension within communities.

18 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

With the hand, the owner of a rooster takes it off the opponent, already dead. The tajen is always associated with a way of affirming masculinity and manhood, status and ascension within communities.

Tajen - Bali Cockfight

A man split the money from the...sters assume combat positions.

20 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

A man split the money from the bets between the winning bettors. The bets per fight reach, on average, 500 rupees (around 30 euros), and 50 rupees (3 euros) is the minimum amount for men, and roosters assume combat positions.

Impatient, a player waits for ...l the hypotheses are possible.

21 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

Impatient, a player waits for his turn, with the animal under his arm, to put his rooster fighting. Unaware of the future of his animal, all the hypotheses are possible.

Tu Aji, a fake name, claims to... amount reached in each fight.

22 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

Tu Aji, a fake name, claims to be a brahmana, a member of the upper caste, descended from sacred men, one of the four Balinese castes. He says that the practice of the taji is clandestine for more than 35 years. Tu Aji is the owner of the taji used for the fights, owns around 23. He rent the blades to the players for 150 thousand rupees, on average. "Is a good business," he says. The razors are made by a family member, he says that few families know the manufacturing secrets of taji, a process that includes detailed rituals, which takes place on nights of hiding the moon. The amount paid for each taji, he explains, depends on the stake amount reached in each fight.

In the corner, outside the are...ater that boils over the fire.

23 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

In the corner, outside the arena, an old man, skin tanned by the sun, plucks the fallen cock in combat with the subtlety of a goldsmith. His feet planted on an extensive area of feathers and blood, the remains of dead animals. Next to him, a black pot of water that boils over the fire.

The old man finally cuts off h...has already seen infinite use.

24 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

The old man finally cuts off his paws with a machete that has already seen infinite use.

Putu, at the time 38 years, is...oster won 200 thousand rupees.

25 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

Putu, at the time 38 years, is the owner of the winning rooster in the previous match. He bought the animal a year ago, gives him corn every day, and something else that he doesn't reveal. The winning rooster, which he carries in his right arm, did not leave the fight unscathed. Putu runs his fingers over the wounds, try to understand their depth. He says that he will have to take care of the animal in the coming weeks, in what is expected to be an exercise of devotion, to which he will have to dedicate much of his time. He anticipates that he can fight again in less than a month. Putu is participating in fights for four years, he does it every week. Wood trader, he takes from the arena the money that helps make up the lean household budget. Today, the rooster won 200 thousand rupees.

The spoils made during the fig...of the dead and plucked cocks.

26 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

The spoils made during the fighting are burned, when activities finish, mostly are feathers of the dead and plucked cocks.

Sitting on a small bench, clos..., a woman roasts satay kebabs.

27 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

Sitting on a small bench, close to the arena, a woman roasts satay kebabs.

Gustiayu Sari sells snacks, dr... mother, bring the small load.

28 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

Gustiayu Sari sells snacks, drinks and cigarettes in a small stall. When the fight's end, she puts all the goods in a basket and covers it with a cloth. "This is good for me, I earn money for the family, about 200 thousand rupees [12 euros] per night", Gustiayu says. She is 40 years old, leaves carrying the goods on his head. The young daughters, surrounding the mother, bring the small load.

The pecundang is the losing co...a soup for the family with it.

29 of 29 © 2025 Eduardo Martins

The pecundang is the losing cock, dead and without the feathers, which men believe tastes better because of the adrenaline. Some of the winners cook a soup for the family with it.

PLAY

STOP

GRID

FULL
LOVE

Close

Thumbnail of A man waits to know if his cock_ng to be the next one to fight.

Thumbnail of The word rooster, 'sabu_f a warrior, champion, or hero.

Thumbnail of Layed down on the motorcycle se_et used to movement and people.

Thumbnail of A man waits for his turn to put_ in which the two must compare.

Thumbnail of The bets per fight reach, on av_ers to assume combat positions.

Thumbnail of Before the fight, bets are weig_ been those who have lost land.

Thumbnail of Two cocks fight in a dirt arena_ the winner kills the opponent.

Thumbnail of Dozens of men while watching ar_lation, only to make a new bet.

Thumbnail of At the end of the day, just bef_brings a rooster under his arm.

Thumbnail of In the arena, a man ties the &a_ing the wrist of a box fighter.

Thumbnail of Leather case with taji, the hal_to kill and wound the opponent.

Thumbnail of In the arena, a man ties the &a_ing the wrist of a box fighter.

Thumbnail of A man holds a rooster in his le_e for violence and subjugation.

Thumbnail of Dozens of men gather around the_ way of affirmation of manhood.

Thumbnail of The nerves are on edge during t_ct the outcome, the final move.

Thumbnail of The clash, of fast movements, b_w minutes, with the two bodies.

Thumbnail of The clash, of fast movements, b_w minutes, with the two bodies.

Thumbnail of With the hand, the owner of a r_d ascension within communities.

Thumbnail of Tajen - Bali Cockfight

Thumbnail of A man split the money from the _osters assume combat positions.

Thumbnail of Impatient, a player waits for h_ll the hypotheses are possible.

Thumbnail of Tu Aji, a fake name, claims to _e amount reached in each fight.

Thumbnail of In the corner, outside the aren_water that boils over the fire.

Thumbnail of The old man finally cuts off hi_ has already seen infinite use.

Thumbnail of Putu, at the time 38 years, is _ooster won 200 thousand rupees.

Thumbnail of The spoils made during the figh_ of the dead and plucked cocks.

Thumbnail of Sitting on a small bench, close_a, a woman roasts satay kebabs.

Thumbnail of Gustiayu Sari sells snacks, dri_e mother, bring the small load.

Thumbnail of The pecundang is the losing coc_ a soup for the family with it.

Public Project

Tajen - Bali Cockfight

Copyright Eduardo Martins 2025

Updated Oct 2020

Location bali

Topics Documentary, Editorial, Photography, Photojournalism

TAJEN - BALI COCKFIGHT

Banned in Indonesia since 1981, the cockfights take place all over Bali, mainly in the rural areas at improvised arenas. The millenary practice of Tajen - Balinese for cockfight - is deeply connected to the practice of Hinduism. Allowed inside the temples as part of the sacrificial rituals, known as the "Tabuh Rah." This ritual translates into bloodshed, which Hinduism advocates as a way to dispel off evil spirits. If cockfighting in a religious context is the exception in the law, its performance beyond the sacred ground has been strictly prohibited by the Jakarta Central Government since 1981, which has not stopped the continuation of the ancient activity, embedded in Balinese popular culture. The sacrificial and religious dimensions of the practice soon were transmuted for the game dimension, rich in mysticism and beliefs, social tensions, and interpersonal violence, a symbol of manhood. So much at stake for dozens of men: money, honor, courage and faith.

7,065

Also by Eduardo Martins —

Portraits

Eduardo Martins

Jun 25, 2020

Raianos

Eduardo Martins / sabugal

Jun 25, 2020

Sorry! Not in Service

Eduardo Martins / HONG KONG

Jul 22, 2020

In The Dark? Follow The Son

Eduardo Martins / kampung portugis

Jul 1, 2020

3Y8M20D

Eduardo Martins / Cambodia

Feb 1, 2020 - Feb 10, 2019

Sign-up for
For more access