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.
Warm Feet in Wet Turnshoes + Combat Practice at the Ribe VikingeCenter
The First Ribe Bouts Are HistoryDear fellow Viking enthusiasts, martial artists, and history aficionados, A few days ago, I returned from Ribe after three days of inspirational living history and dedicated historical combat practice in the most enchanting setting. First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to the Ribe VikingeCenter and its staff, especially museum director Christin V. Clausen, Ann-Sophie Skov Havemose, and Bjørke Asgar Bruun, for their generous support, hospitality, and kindness. I hope we will have the opportunity to return next year. I would also like to thank all the attendees for their energy and enthusiasm. Once again, you managed to create a training environment that was both cheerful and dedicated, calm yet determined. Despite the absence of modern protective equipment, there were zero injuries, thanks to the participants' responsible approach and their focus on precision and control. Well done, everyone. I will share my videos and photos with you in due course. For now, you can download the group photo at maximum resolution.
How to Keep Your Feet WarmWhen practising outside in period kit during autumn, you need to be prepared for wet feet. Usually, this isn't an issue as long as you stay active, but after a training session, the dampness can take its toll, and your feet may start to feel cold. However, there’s a simple historical solution—insoles. A flax tow insole was found at Hedeby, the only find of its kind. The insoles I use in my turnshoes are made from felt, as wool has far better insulating properties than plant fibres. Felt, a common Slavic textile product, has been confirmed for 9th-century Hedeby, according to textile expert Inga Hägg. In Ribe, my friend Mikkel mentioned that, after following my example, he no longer needs to wear socks when using felt insoles. So, while you may have to get used to occasional wetness in turnshoes, you don’t have to endure cold feet. Bronze Sword Grip DiscussionOver on the Book and Sword blog, my fellow researcher Sean Manning has published a post summarising some recent opinions on how to grip Bronze Age swords, including my own. You might find it an interesting read. I’ve also left a reply in the comments section.
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. To learn to fight, consult our sword & buckler online course. 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.
Close Combat with Shield and Short Spear The threat of a throw is how Arttu dominates an opponent at wide range Hello historical martial arts enthusiasts, What happens when a professional dancer, researcher, and martial artist explores the dynamics of spear and shield combat? At the Ribe Bouts 2025, Arttu Peltoniemi shared fifteen years of study on how javelin-sized spears and sharp spearheads behave in close combat — with impressive precision and physical control. The Ribe class also...
HistoRealities.com — Authenticity Animated Our new project: Historical accuracy meets cutting-edge animation Hello history enthusiasts, Regular readers will recall recent editions of this newsletter discussing both the exciting possibilities and the frustrating absurdities of AI image and video generation — particularly when it comes to creating animated depictions of historical figures and settings. The conference took place at Augsburg University on 9/10 October I’ve just returned from a...
Fall for Swords: From Viking Shields to Bronze Blades On the training field in the Ribe VikingeCenter Hello fellow sword enthusiasts, Autumn has arrived, and the calendar is brimming with exciting events. The Ribe Bouts are now fully booked. I am delighted by the event’s popularity and look forward to welcoming Viking re-enactors from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Finland at the wonderful Ribe VikingeCenter in just two weeks. Attendees will receive final information by email...