GREAT PHOTOJOURNALISM

Great Photojournalism

Carsten Snejbjerg

Cock Fighting

Since cockfighting was first introduced in the 16th century by Spanish colonizers, it has become one of the most popular spectator sports in the Philippines. A cockfight is a blood sport between two roosters, held in a ring called a cockpit. Cockfighting is now illegal throughout most the United States, Brazil and in most of Europe.

Cockfighting in the Philippines is called "Sabong". It is one of the Philippines' national sport. Legal cockfights are held on cockpits every week. Cockfighting is an organized fight between two roosters who are placed in a pit to fight each other. The roosters have been trained to severely injure and/or kill one another. These birds, which are raised for the purpose of fighting, are tormented to make them aggressive. They are also given various legal and illegal drugs such as strychnine, caffeine, amphetamines, and epinephrine to make them more aggressive, increase their endurance and clot the blood that will flow during the fight.

A cock is being prepared for match and the knife is placed.

Cocks are given the best of care until near the age of two years old. They are conditioned, much like professional athletes prior to events or shows.

Both fighting cocks are shown to the public. The cock which is llamado gets the higher odds, while the underdog is termed dejado.
Basically speaking, there are two types of battlecocks, the flyer and the grounder. The flyer is more sensational as it fights from the air delivering multiple blows at sewing machine needle-speed. The grounder relies on footwork delivering single but extra powerful blows. In the air, a grounder will be no match against a flier. But if the flier takes wing, the grounder does not follow. It merely waits for the flier to come down and a gamecock is most vulnerable before it touches the ground, when its legs are momentarily tied to the landing operation.

Since cockfighting was first introduced in the 16th century by Spanish colonizers, it has become one of the most popular spectator sports in the Philippines. A cockfight is a blood sport between two roosters, held in a ring called a cockpit. Cockfighting is now illegal throughout most the United States, Brazil and in most of Europe.

Moments before the match starts, each handler grips their rooster and holds it face to face with its foe. Gazing into the eyes of its enemy, each rooster works itself into a feather-erecting killing frenzy. As each handler releases their grip, the roosters are overcome with bloodlust and attack with startling ferocity. In a flurry of feathers, blood and razorblades, the roosters viciously attempt to kill each other, just as they have been trained. Matches usually last around three minutes or less

There are 2 kinds of knives used in Philippine cockfighting. The single edge blade (use in derbies) and double edged blades. All knives are attached on the left leg of the cock. But depending on the agreement between owners, blades can be attached on the right leg, or even on both legs. In some regional variations, the birds are equipped with either metal spurs (called gaffs) or knives, tied to the leg in the area where the bird's natural spur has been partially removed. A cockspur is a bracelet (often made of leather) with a curved, sharp spike which is attached to the leg of the bird. The spikes typically range in length from "short spurs" of just over an inch to long spurs almost two and a half inches long.

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Rooster being stitched up by a “cock doctor” after fight. The rooster is undergoing surgery. It might survive and be ready to fight again.

Rooster being stitched up by a “cock doctor” after fight. The rooster is undergoing surgery. It might survive and be ready to fight again.

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ingen billedtekst

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Training gloves.

Jose Andreda is training some of his cocks.

A fighting cock farm

Bettors shout their wagers and flailed arms that carried fingered gestures to bookies. Betting is an important part of cock fighting.

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Expectators watching the roosters getting prepared for fight.

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Rooster being stitched up by a “cock doctor” after fight. The rooster is undergoing surgery. It might survive and be ready to fight again.

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ingen billedtekst

Rooster being stitched up by a “cock doctor” after fight. The rooster is undergoing surgery. It might survive and be ready to fight again.