subject: From Italy To Fencing Altamonte Springs, Historic Wins To Fantasy Battles [print this page] Blockbuster films feature swashbuckling pirates, Jedis dueling with lightsabers, sword wielding magician wizards, heroic gladiators and godlike Achilles conquering soldiers with heavy metal swords, not to mention skilled witches foiling evil. Across the globe, from Italy to Germany, to fencing altamonte springs, the public has never been on the fence about sword fighting.
Romania, France, Italy, Hungary, USSR, USA, Germany, Poland, and Russia are among the top Olympic countries for the sport. Top countries have more medals won by both men and women athletes than other countries. Women joined the ranks of foil athletes in 1924. The Summer Olympics included fending at its outset in 1896. Swordsmen of the Olympics use the foil, the epee and the sabre. Rules of competition depend on the weapon used.
There are three forms of Olympic fencing using one of three types of swords and particular rules. A foil weapon, the principal competitive and beginner sword, is used for thrusting. The foil can touch the torso once with the blade point to score. The epee, or dueling sword, is heavier than the foil, has a more rigid blade with a V shape at the cross section. Its bell guard is also larger than a foil. The epee is used in competition to target any part of the body, and allows double touches with the point of the blade.
Another competition weapon, the sabre is less rigid than the epee. Its cross section is Y or V shaped. Other than the head and hands, the target zone for the epee is above the waist. The epee sword is used for cuts and thrusts. Like the foil, the swordsman scores with one touch. Unlike the foil, the sabre edge can be used to score, not just to score with its point.
The Museum of American Fencing is a public facility located in Shreveport, Louisiana. The website includes historical information, trivia, and publications, as well as virtual tours of the museum collection.
Historical trivia from the Museum website includes informing the public about Joanna deTuscan, the 1939 World Professional Foil Champion. Iris Zimmermann, who, at age 16, claimed the title of the youngest US National Foil Championship for women, also went on to become the World Cadet Foil Champion for 1995. Emily Cross was the World Cadet Foil Champion in 2003, and the 2005 and 2006 World Junior Foil Champion. The website informs the public that these women are the only American women to win world foil championships.
Steeped in history, and continuing to engage fans, sword fighting is enjoyed the world over, from Russia to Romania to Italy, to fencing altamonte springs. From real life competitions to fantasy battles, sword fighting has scored points to win duels, save kingdoms, and the future of mankind.
