Final Event InfoDear fellow buckler fighters, This weekend, we will gather for the 24th Berlin Buckler Bouts — hurrah! We anticipate 35 dedicated fencers from the Czech Republic, the US, Poland, Denmark, and Germany. If you’d like, you can watch my video of the BBB XI, which nicely captures the atmosphere. The event logo is available for download. Additionally, you’ll find links to a great article on slow fencing and another video on the BBB here. These two texts are also highly recommended: “The Unorthodox Fighter” and “Smile and Attack!” For additional valuable resources, check out Cornelius Berthold's content on the Dimicator Schola YouTube channel. Participation and WaiversTo take part in any fencing activities at the BBB, you must sign a liability waiver. If you haven’t already done so, please download it, sign it, and email it to me, with Ralf cc’d. Thank you for helping us minimise paperwork on site. Note that no blank waivers will be available at the venue — it is your responsibility to get this sorted. No waiver, no fencing! We trust you’ll be able to handle it. At the BBB, sharp weapons may be used for demonstrations and hands-on discussions but are no longer permitted for sparring. For First-TimersIf this is your first time attending the BBB, you may want to read Michella’s review of her inaugural experience. Additionally, Federico Malagutti’s report on his first participation in 2013 is a great read. Ewan Ferguson also shares a review of his participation in the BBB 23 in May 2025. There’s really no need to feel nervous! To ease everyone in and shake off any initial tension, all free play before lunch on the first day will be done with masks and in slow motion. This video showcases the dedicated yet cheerful atmosphere we aim to create. Transport and LogisticsUnfortunately, we are unable to offer shuttle transfers to the training venue or airport pick-up. However, Berlin’s public transport system is well-organised and usually much faster and more efficient than navigating the city by car. Dining and RefreshmentsOn Saturday night, we’ll dine at our traditional venue, the Indian restaurant Hindi, which is within walking distance of the hall. Ralf has made reservations for us. 👉 Please let us know now if you would like to join the vegetarian oriental lunch buffet, which will be served on site for only €12 per person per day, payable to Ralf in cash. So far, only seven of you have made a reservation — but we need a minimum of ten participants to make it happen. At the BBB, we strive to reduce waste, so we kindly ask you to bring your own cutlery for the lunch buffet — and even a plate, if possible. This would greatly assist us and contribute to environmental protection. Thank you! Venue DetailsThe sports hall is located at Bouchéstraße 76, 12435 Berlin. It will open at 9 am, with the official welcome at 10 am, followed by the start of training. The hall will be available to us until 7 pm. On Sunday, training will conclude around 5 pm. Facilities, including showers, are available at the gym. Tap water is perfectly safe to drink, and Ralf’s club will provide ample drinking water for everyone. Please bring refillable water containers, as disposable cups and bottles will not be provided. We also encourage you to use these containers if you get yourself a coffee during breaks. Contact InformationMy mobile: +49-172 770 69 86 We are excited and eagerly look forward to seeing you all! 🛡️ Shields up! ⚔️ P.S. If ever you considered enrolling in a I.33 online course – now's the best time. Sign up here for the best offers of the year (plus a surprise gift). You are receiving this newsletter because you have signed up for the Berlin Buckler Bouts. If you prefer to not receive further emails, you can unsubscribe from the newsletter and all messages below. |
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.
The Endless Cycle Pierpont Morgan Library, New York, MS M. 638, fol. 38r (c. 1250) Dear history enthusiasts, When this newsletter goes out, I will be on the road, heading home from my mother’s funeral. She passed away last week, in the company of loved ones, only moments after receiving her final blessing. At first, I was reluctant to share something so personal. But then I realised that this is precisely what history is about: the endless cycle of arrival and departure, the story of those...
A Kingdom for a Horse! It could be worse: it could be raining! Hello history enthusiasts, My fellow illustrator Oliver Wünsch and I are still busy exploring new AI-assisted opportunities for visual storytelling. We feel it is the best way to spend our time now that traditional illustration work has largely vanished, thanks to generative AI. The good news—at least for us—is that our particular application of AI still requires artistic skill as well as archaeological and historical expertise....
Viking Houses Need Maintenance Danes in the house: very hyggelig Hello fellow medieval military enthusiasts and time travellers, I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits, swinging swords as one ought to. If you are doing so in preparation for the first Dimicator venture of the year in Hedeby on the weekend of 18/19 April, make sure to sign up swiftly. No Danish Viking venture without sufficient sausage supplies The museum has notified me that, due to maintenance and...