La Esgrima (version in English below)

Los esgrimistas usan uniformes blancos porque en los orgenes de la esgrima deportiva, los toques se juzgaban por medio de una mancha de tinta que el arma dejaba pintada. No faltaron sin embargo los tramposos que remojaban sus uniformes en vinagre (que era lo que se usaba para limpiar las manchas de tinta), de modo que cuando eran tocados no quedaba mancha alguna.

Cuando los esgrimistas haen el saludo antes de un asalto, lo hacen antes de ponerse la careta, porque en los viejos tiempos de duelos con armadura tenian que mostrar la cara para comprobar su identidad. De otra forma hubiera sido muy facil contratar a otra persona para pelear en su lugar.

Desde que inciaron las Olimpiadas Modernas y hasta la fecha, la esgrima ha sido uno de sus deportes. El esgrima moderna tiene tres modalidades diferentes: Florete, Espada, y Sable. Cda uno tiene diferente historia, objetivo y reglas. El Florete y el Sable fueron desarrollados como armas de entrenamiento, mientras que la espada es descendiente de la usada en duelos. Como es facil de suponer, el objetivo en las tres armas es tocar el adversario en una area valida sin ser tocada uno mismo. Aunque las acciones en esgrima soncomplejas y las variantes limitadas, las acciones de un asalto entran dentro de ciertas categorias basicas. El movimiento que detiene un ataque se la llama "parada" y al contraataque despues de la parada la "respuesta".

    Como suede en otros deportes, los esgrimistas tienen diferentes persoalidades. Unos prefieren iniciar acciones ofensivas mientras que otros prefieren espera y responder a la iniciativa de su adversario. Los mas listos aprenden a atraer a su adversario a una trampa, haciendole creer que es un vulnerable y atrayendolo a hacer acciones predecibles que puedan ser aprovechadas al igual que en el boxeo, el exito en la esgrima depende en gran medida de la habilidad del esgrimista en manipular la distancia. El esgrimista debe estar lo suficientemente alejado para evitar ser tocado, mientras que por otra parte debe acercarse lo necesario para tocar a su adversario cuando este menos preparado para defenderse.

About fencing:

Foil, epee, and sabre are the three weapons used in the sport of fencing. While it is not unusual for fencers to compete in all three events, they generally choose to develop their skills in one weapon. Until recently, women were permitted to compete only in foil, but now the USFA offers national competitions for women in epee and sabre. Women's epee was added to the World Championships in 1989 and will be held for the first time at the Olympic Games in 1996. Foil and epee are point-thrusting weapons. Sabre is a point-thrusting as well as a cutting weapon. The target areas differ for the three weapons, though all three are scored electronically.
 

Espada/Epee

The epee (pronounced "EPP-pay"), the descendent of the original dueling sword, is similar in length to the foil, but is heavier, weighing approximately 27 ounces, with a larger guard (to protect the hand from a valid hit) and a much stiffer blade. Touches are scored only with the point of the blade. The entire body is the valid target area.
 

The epee is also an electrical weapon. The blade is wired with a spring-loaded tip at the end that completes an electrical circuit when it is depressed beyond a pressure of 750 grams. The causes the colored bulb on the scoring machine to light. Because the entire body is a valid target area, the epee fencer's uniform does not include a lamé (metallic jacket). Off-target hits do not register on the machine.

Saber/Sable

The saber is the modern version of the slashing cavalry sword, and is similar in length and weight to the foil. The major difference is that the sabre is a point-thrusting weapon as well as a cutting weapon (use of the blade). The target area is from the bend of the hips (both front and back), to the top of the head, simulating the cavalry rider on a horse. The sabre fencer's uniform includes a metallic jacket (lamé), which covers the target area to register a valid touch on the scoring machine. The mask is different from foil and epee, with a metallic covering since the head is valid target area.
 

Just as in foil, there are two scoring lights on the machine. One shows a green light when a fencer is hit, and one shows a red light when the opponent is hit. Off-target hits do not register on the machine.
 

Foil/Florete

The foil, the modern version of the dueling rapier, has a flexible rectangular blade, approximately 35 inches in length, weighing less than one pound. Points are scored with the tip of the blade and must land within the torso of the body.
 

The valid target area in foil is the torso, from the shoulder to the groin, front and back. It does not include the arms, neck, head and legs. The foil fencer's uniform includes a metallic vest (called a lamé) which covers the valid target area, so that a valid touch will register on the scoring machine. A small, spring-loaded tip is attached to the point of the foil and is connected to a wire inside the blade. The fencer wears a body cord inside his uniform which connects the foil to a reel wire, connected to the scoring machine.
 

There are two scoring lights on the machine. One shows a green light when a fencer is hit, and one shows a red light when her opponent is hit. A touch landing outside the valid target area (that which is not covered by the lamé) is indicated by a white light. These "off target" hits do not count in the scoring, but they do stop the fencing action temporarily

Right of Way.

Information in English provided by the US Fencing Association Media Guide.

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