Child bullfighters are all the rage in Mexico, even though the tiny torreadors run the risk of having their teensy weensy organs gouged and adorably shredded to bits:

[T]he children confront very real danger in the ring, and their fights still end with the traditional killing of the bull. As their appearances have grown more frequent, so, too, has criticism from those who say they should find a safer extracurricular activity.

Like what, watching TV? Talk about sedentary! Running in terror from angry beasts, on the other hand, is a great way to get the old (or, er, young) ticker going:

Jairo, an apprentice bullfighter who is following in the footsteps of his father, knows the danger better than most. A Spaniard who began his professional career in Mexico at 12, Jairo was gored so seriously on April 15 in Aguascalientes that he was near death. The bull, named Hidrocalido and weighing in excess of 900 pounds, pierced his left lung, coming within an inch of his heart.

Yeah, and we’ll bet he wouldn’t quit whining about it. God. Kids these days are so spoiled. In our day, we used to fight with bulls while blindfolded and barefoot. In the snow.

Child Matadors Draw Olés in Mexico’s Bullrings [New York Times]