Jan 28, 2014 6:30 AM

Gallery: Forget Matadors, These Guys Wrestle Bulls With Their Bare Hands

Eduardo Leal
01
The Reunion
A forcado tries to hang on after the 'pega' or face catch and is helped by the rest of the group in the Évora Arena in Évora, Portugal. July 19, 2013.
Eduardo Leal
02
Dressing for the bullfight
Forcados from the group in Évora get help putting on five-meter red waistbands that protect their internal organs from the bull. Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal. August 15, 2013.

Eduardo Leal
03
Rabujador closes the performance
João Madeira, a member of the forcados group from Évora, acts as the 'rabujador' and pulls the tail while riding in circles to close the performance. Évora Arena. Portugal. July 20, 2013.
Eduardo Leal
04
Forcados jacket
The 'jaqueta', or a forcado's jacket seen in the dressing room before the bullfight in Valverde, Portugal on August, 3 2013. The jacket distinguishes each group from a another because of the different fabrics and patterns. It is also extremely important for the forcados since it passes from generation to generation.

Eduardo Leal
05
Forcado lost in deep thoughts
José Martins, a member of the Forcados of Évora, after a difficult catch. Entradas Arena. Portugal. July 26, 2013.
Eduardo Leal
06
Forcados broken leg
José Martins, a member of the group of Forcados of Évora, broke his leg after an attempt to wrestle the bull in Redondo, Portugal, on August 9, 2013. Forcados are frequently injured during their career. Some suffer broken bones, while others are disabled or even killed.

Eduardo Leal
07
Blessings before wrestling the bull
Before the group enters the arena to face the bull, forcados perform a small blessing. Forcados are known to be extremely religious. Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal. August 15, 2013.
Eduardo Leal
08
The face catch
A member of the Forcados of Évora performs a face catch. Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal. August 15, 2013.

Eduardo Leal
09
Praying for protection
Guga Oliveira, one of the members of the Forcados of Évora, watches as another member of the group prays before the bullfight. Alcochete Arena, Portugal. August 13, 2013.
Eduardo Leal
10
Jumping the trenches
A forcado jumps into the arena. They try to make it as artistic as possible, since its one of the most important rituals before the 'pega' or head catch of the bull. Alcochete Arena, Portugal. August 13, 2013.

Eduardo Leal
11
Forcados jacket after wrestling the bull
A detail of the forcado jacket after the 'pega,' or face catch. Redondo Arena, Portugal. August 10, 2013.
Eduardo Leal
12
Salutes from the public
Dinis Caeiro, a member of the Forcados of Évora, leaves the arena after a successful 'pega' or face catch. When the pega is done on the first attempt and with style, the forcado goes around the arena to receive applauses and flowers from the public. Entradas, Portugal. July 26, 2013.

The Audacity Is the Broligarchy Takedown You Were Waiting For

AMC’s new black comedy about a manchild tech titan spinning out of control is a skewering Silicon Valley’s billionaire class deserves.

Miles Klee

A Lot of Shops Won't Fix Electric Bikes. Here's Why

Bike shop mechanics have lost fingers and their shirts while repairing ebikes of dubious origins. Make sure yours is repairable and third-party certified.

Stephanie Pearson

It’s a Tablet! It’s a Laptop! After Testing the Best 2-in-1s, Here’s What I Recommend

Whether you want a detachable tablet or a laptop screen that spins, these 2-in-1 devices manage to balance being both a tablet and a laptop.

Luke Larsen

There’s a Secret Ingredient to Making Luxury Ice at Home

Nice ice is big business, but you can get perfectly clear cubes at home without freezing your assets.

Jeremy White

The Screenmaxxers Who Spend Every Waking Hour on Their Phones

As debates over social media addiction rage, people with extreme screen times tell WIRED they have no plans to cut back.

Miles Klee

Mammotion’s Spino E1 Pool Cleaner Isn’t Bad for the Price—It's Just Not That Good

This compact pool robot keeps its price down, but its performance doesn’t match that of more capable cleaners.

Christopher Null

The Best Coffee Mug Warmers Are Smart. But They Don’t Need an App

The first rule of coffee is that it must stay hot. After weeks or even years of testing, these are the three coffee warmers that will best keep it that way.

Matthew Korfhage