estocada

Estocada is the final thrust performed by the matador in a bullfight, delivered with the estoque, a long, pointed sword. The aim is to kill the bull quickly by piercing the chest, typically targeting the heart-lung region. The estocada is executed during the tercio de muerte, the third and last phase of the corrida.

The technique involves guiding the sword through the bull’s right side with the blade directed toward the heart. The matador seeks a precise, clean penetration and typically withdraws the weapon after the blade is firmly embedded. The success of the estocada is judged by how rapidly and humanely the bull dies, which in turn affects the awarding of trophies and the overall assessment of the performance.

If the estocada does not produce an immediate death, a second estocada may be attempted, or a descabello may be used as a finishing method. The descabello is performed with a separate knife aimed at severing the spinal cord to ensure the bull’s death.

Etymology-wise, estocada derives from estocar, meaning to thrust or stab with a spear or similar weapon. In taurine terminology, the estocada is a central element of the kill and is contrasted with related actions such as the sword thrusts used during other moments of the fight. The term can also be used in broader Spanish to denote a stabbing thrust, but in practice it refers to the bullfighting technique.