Determinant variables related to performance of professional bullfighters: A narrative review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v65.111786

Keywords:

Bull, bullfighter, heart rate, performance, variability

Abstract

Although bullfighting is not considered a sport, bullfighters require an optimal level of physical preparation to be able to face the difficult activity of fighting a brave bull. The usual approaches to the physical preparation of professional bullfighters are based on decontextualized training methods, or on the practice of sports modalities with positive transfer to bullfighting. However, the lack of analysis of the context of bullfighting, as well as the existence of few investigations that have analyzed the psychophysiological variables and the movement time of professional bullfighters during the fight, causes the urgent need to generate a line of research that can solve these deficiencies.

Objective: The main objective of this narrative review is to present the current relevant scientific literature on the variables that determine the performance of bullfighters, and thereby, begin to lay the foundations for a more scientific analysis of bullfighting.

Method: A bibliographic search was carried out in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines and the PICO framework.

Result: The results of this narrative review show the determining variables in the performance of professional bullfighters studied by the scientific community.

Conclusion: knowledge of these variables will allow a more effective application of the principles of training, particularly the principle of specificity, often neglected in the training of this art associated with physical activity.

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Published

2025-02-24

How to Cite

Teba-del Pino, L., Calleja-González, J., Mielgo-Ayuso, J., & Sáez de Villarreal, E. (2025). Determinant variables related to performance of professional bullfighters: A narrative review. Retos, 65, 1107–1119. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v65.111786

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Section

Theoretical systematic reviews and/or meta-analysis

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