The 'jaqueta' or forcado's jacket in the dressing room before the bullfight. The jacket distinguishes each group from another because of the different fabrics and patterns. It is also extremely important for the forcados since it passes from generation to generation.
Antonio Alfacinha, the leader of the Forcados of Evora, is assisted by a doctor before each race. Forcados tend to suffer heavy injuries and after a long career, their joints must be reinforced.
Members of the group of Forcados of Evora dress in the house of an ex-forcado before the bullfight. When the arenas don't have dressing rooms, groups use the house of friends or old members to keep the costs down.
Joao Madeira, a member of the Grupo Forcados Amadores de Evora (GFAE) puts a 5 meters red waistband protection in the house of an old member of the group before the bullfight. The waistband helps to protect their internal organs from the attack of the bull.
Ricardo Matxira gets ready for the bullfight in the hotel room.
The two symbols: The hat and the forcado stick.
Antonio Alfacinha, the leader of the Forcados of Evora, gives a speech before the bullfight. In each race the leader chooses 18 members of the group to take part in the bullfight.
A suitcase belonging to one of the forcados. Forcados are extremely religious.
Guga Oliveira, one of the members of the group of Forcados of Evora, looks to another member of the group while he prays before the bullfight. Forcados are extremely religious.
Members of Grupo Forcados Amadores de Evora entering on the Alcochete Arena before the bullfight.
One of the horseman salutes the crowd during 'Cortesias', the ceremony that introduces the performers of the bullfight. There is a difference between the horseman and the forcados. While horsemen are professionals and make €6,000 per bullfight, forcados are amateurs and make as much as €600 per bullfight for the all group which can have sometimes 40 members.
Detail of the forcado's jacket and hat. The hat is never washed, the bloodstains testify the forcados experience.
Forcados of the group of Evora performs a small blessing before their group enters the arena. Forcados are extremely religious.
Crowd during the bullfight in Santa Eulália.
Forcado jumps the trenches to enter the arena. They try to make it as artistic as possible since it's one of the most important rituals before the 'pega' or head catch of the bull. Unlike in Spain, where the bull is stabbed to death if the matador manages to win the contest, the forcados wrestle the animal with their bare hands as a display of determination and bravura.
A bull looks to a forcado before the bullcatch.
A member of the Evora forcados performs a face catch at Barbarela style, grabbing the bull by the neck. The forcado must be kept in the head of the bull until he stops, otherwise, he has to perform another face catch. The "pega" or face catch is the first part of the forcados performance.
Forcado leads the bull after the face catch and is helped by the rest of the group. The forcado must be kept in the head of the bull until he stops, otherwise, he has to perform another face catch. The reunion is the second part of the Forcados performance.
Joao Madeira, a member of the Forcados group of Evora, acts as the 'rabujador' pulling the tail and riding in circles with the bull. This is the third and final part of the forcados performance.
Forcado's jacket stained with blood after the face catch. The jacket distinguishes each group from another because of the different fabrics and patterns. It is also extremely important for the forcados since it passes from generation to generation.
Joao Gomes, a member of the forcados of Evora, is sad after an unsuccessful performance.
Jose Martins, a member of the Forcados of Evora, is lost in thoughts after a difficult catch of the bull. He was only able to catch the bull after three attempts.
Doctors try to reanimate a forcado after the bull threw him into the air. Forcados get frequent injuries during their career, from broken limbs to more serious injuries like lifelong disabilities or even death.
Ricardo Matxira, a member of the Forcados of Evora, supports a member of the group after he broke his knee during the bullfight. Forcados get frequent injuries during their career, from broken limbs to more serious injuries like lifelong disabilities or even death.
Jose Martins, a member of the group of Forcados of Evora, broke his leg after an attempt to wrestle the bull. Forcados get frequent injuries during their career, from broken limbs to more serious injuries like lifelong disabilities or even death.
Dinis Caeiro, a member of the Forcados of Evora, leaves the arena after a successful face catch. When the pega is done at the first attempt and with style, the forcado goes around the arena to receive applauses and flowers from the public.
A forgotten jacket hanging in the dressing room after a bullfight.
