I am Roland Warzecha, a professional illustrator – and a swordsman. Hence the name ‘Dimicator’ which is a Latin term meaning sword fighter. I present to you cutting-edge research into historical martial arts, and Viking & high medieval sword & shield fighting in particular. I am co-operating with museums, fellow martial artists and scholars worldwide. Renowned expert for historical arms, Dr Alfred Geibig, says: “The careful reconstruction of historical swordsmanship, impressively demonstrated by Mr. Warzecha, is a valuable supplement to archaeological insights, and clearly proves the efficiency of European swords and the sophistication of the associated historical fighting arts.” To get regular up-dates on the archaeology and history of sword & shield and how they were used, sign up for my newsletter! I would be delighted if you would join my quest.
Your New Guides to Medieval Sword & Shield, Virtual and Real
New I.33 Online Course Launches This Weekend!Dear sword-and-shield enthusiasts, martial artists, and gamers, Cornelius and I are excited about our new online course on medieval sword-and-buckler fencing, based on Europe’s oldest surviving combat treatise—Royal Armouries manuscript I.33. It will be released this weekend. What we will present to you adds an important set of options to your repertoire of sword-and-buckler techniques, complementing the material covered in our first foundational course, which explores the plays of First Ward (Prima Custodia) against Half-Shield. For my esteemed readers, this foundational course is still available at a 35% discount. In any case, you can look forward to a unique course—and be ready to take advantage of special offers during the upcoming launch campaign! Cornelius on the Fighting in KCD 2If this acronym doesn’t ring a bell, you’re as unfamiliar with computer games as I am. Everyone else will recognise it as "Kingdom Come: Deliverance II"—a medieval open-world game featuring plenty of sword fights, as you might expect. Cornelius was invited by a popular YouTube channel to comment on the authenticity of the weapons, armour, and combat mechanics in the game (in German). Even I found the video highly entertaining, and I must say, the quality of the props and animations is truly impressive.
My Favourite 3D ArtistSpeaking of KCD 2, I’d like to highlight the work of Béla Csampai, an artist whose work I deeply admire. Inspired by the game last weekend, he created his own 3D model of a sword featured in KCD 2. I’m sharing it with you here—not least because it would be perfectly suited for sword-and-buckler combat—if only it were real!
If practicing swordplay in the real world is more to your taste, don't forget to sign up for the Hedeby Bouts and the BBB! So, that's it for today. Take care, and keep your sword and buckler at hand. 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 am Roland Warzecha, a professional illustrator – and a swordsman. Hence the name ‘Dimicator’ which is a Latin term meaning sword fighter. I present to you cutting-edge research into historical martial arts, and Viking & high medieval sword & shield fighting in particular. I am co-operating with museums, fellow martial artists and scholars worldwide. Renowned expert for historical arms, Dr Alfred Geibig, says: “The careful reconstruction of historical swordsmanship, impressively demonstrated by Mr. Warzecha, is a valuable supplement to archaeological insights, and clearly proves the efficiency of European swords and the sophistication of the associated historical fighting arts.” To get regular up-dates on the archaeology and history of sword & shield and how they were used, sign up for my newsletter! I would be delighted if you would join my quest.
A Famous Viking Age Sword Made for a Left-Hander My friend Alban's favourite sword Hello fellow sword and history enthusiasts, It’s not often that you get to see this exceptionally well-preserved sword outside the British Museum. With its wide fuller inscribed LEUTLRIT and an Anglo-Danish hilt adorned with geometric inlays, it is an outstanding piece. Note the slightly off-centre and tilted montage of the pommel But what I find most intriguing are the subtle asymmetries in the hilt...
The Fencing Bridegroom Swordsmen's distinguished summer fashion Hello sword-and-buckler enthusiasts and fashion victims, My fellow buckler fighter and researcher Cornelius Berthold was married this past weekend. The occasion provided a splendid opportunity for some early-morning fencing before breakfast—and, notably, for swordplay in suits. The latter was suggested by photographer Jonas Radtke, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing the resulting images. There can be only one! In the...
Are We But Brutal Primates? Chimps make war, bonobos make love. What about us? (My illustration) Hello fellow history enthusiasts, I suspect many of you share my feeling that we are living through particularly unusual and turbulent times. While I generally make a conscious effort to maintain a positive outlook and focus on the good, I must admit this has grown increasingly difficult in recent years. Stupidity, ignorance and brutality seem all too prominent among our species at present....