FOURTH LESSON
CORRIDAS
The corrida is one of the most common suertes among the tiradores; and we can assure beyond any doubt, that it is a great fundamental of this art, because it encompasses all the methods of attacking the adversary, or as said among the barateros, buscarle el bulto*, and defending or huir the body. In it all classes of golpes are struck, or better said, it is the complete art.
The corrida is no other thing than the description of a semicircle made by each of the combatants in the course of the fight; but trying always to maintain the original distance until reaching the moment of attack, in which case it is necessary to enter into the terreno contrario and wound the enemy with whichever of the known golpes.
The corrida is executed by progressing towards either one of the sides and without changing the first position of the guardia, sometimes towards the left and others towards the right; since one of the tiradores will always attack the other, the attacked should jiro or huye with a corrida towards the opposite side, or he exits from the terreno by leaping back. These two semicircles which are formed by the combatants, one infront of the other, come together to describe an entire circle, more or less perfect, and of one visual variety.
However great the agility the diestro has in his feet, he will be that much better at executing the corrida, because as we have already said, this art consists more in the agility and cold blood of the diestro than in any other thing; because although the technique is very essential, it is of no service without the assistance of these two qualities.
*"buscarle el bulto": "seek the body"