I’m Roland Warzecha — professional illustrator and swordsman. The name Dimicator comes from the Latin for “sword fighter.” I share cutting-edge research into historical martial arts, focusing in particular on Viking and high medieval sword-and-shield combat. My work is carried out in collaboration with museums, fellow martial artists, and scholars around the world.
New Scabbard + My Lecture in Copenhagen
A Home for a SwordHello sword enthusiasts. A good sword needs an appropriate scabbard. My friend and fellow buckler fighter Christina had been aware of that for a long time. Last year she approached me and asked if I was willing to supervise her work if she would make scabbards for her training swords. I said I would. So today I will present to you one of the two scabbards she made. I think she did a great job. I have compiled some photos of details for you in a post.
Read more about scabbards and scabbard making in this previous newsletter. Viking Age Combat Discussion Forum 2024When this newsletter hits your inbox, I will be in Copenhagen for a conference on one of my favourite subjects, namely Viking Age Fighting. I have been invited to contribute a lecture about sword design and ergonomics. I am very much looking forward to it, and to meeting some old friends, as well as making the acquaintance of some fine researchers whose work I have been following. Here is the program: Is the pen mightier than the sword?
Finds and fights in archaeology
The Danish Viking Reenactment scene
Reconstructing combat
Special thanks to the event organiser Gustav Hejlesen Solberg for inviting me. I will let you all about the conference when I am back. So, that's it for today. Take care, and keep your blade well-honed. If you enjoyed this newsletter, please recommend it to your friends. They can sign up here or on my website. Or simply forward them this email. If you wish to read more, find hundreds of related posts on my Patreon. Special thanks to all my loyal supporters on Patreon – you keep me going! And if you are not a patron yet, you are most welcome to join. If you feel like dropping a coin into my tip jar, you can do so here. Thank you for your time and your interest. Yours, Roland You are receiving this newsletter because you have signed up for it, or because you have previously expressed your interest in my work and events. If you prefer to not receive further emails, you can unsubscribe below. |
Dimicator
I’m Roland Warzecha — professional illustrator and swordsman. The name Dimicator comes from the Latin for “sword fighter.” I share cutting-edge research into historical martial arts, focusing in particular on Viking and high medieval sword-and-shield combat. My work is carried out in collaboration with museums, fellow martial artists, and scholars around the world.
Hello fellow history enthusiasts and blade aficionados, The past fortnight has been wonderfully busy. From teaching at HEMA Camp 1387 in Lithuania and studying remarkable museum pieces to continuing several long-term research and reconstruction projects, there has been plenty to keep me occupied. I hope you'll enjoy the latest updates. A Week of Swords in Lithuania I have just returned from an unforgettable week in Lithuania, filled with fencing, research, museum visits, inspiring...
Learning from the Past Reconstructed prehistoric pile dwellings at the Pfahbaumuseum Unteruhldingen (photo: Tourismus-Marketing GmbH Baden-Wuerttemberg) Throughout history, flourishing societies have occasionally undermined the very foundations of their own prosperity. Archaeology provides many examples. Around Lake Constance, Neolithic and Bronze Age communities appear to have exhausted the surrounding forests through intensive timber use, gradually reducing an essential resource. Centuries...
Hello fellow history enthusiasts and blade aficionados, Whether we study historical martial arts or historical weapons, one question continually arises: why were things done this way? The answer may lie partly in movement and partly in craftsmanship. More often than not, however, it emerges from the dialogue between maker and user—a relationship encapsulated in the artefacts of our martial heritage. Watch Cornelius practicing in a new public video The Longpoint Lesson — Hand-Foot Coordination...