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.
Churches, Bucklers, and Blades
History in Stone — And SteelHello fellow history enthusiasts and sword lovers, living in rural Mecklenburg means being surrounded by traces of the past. Within only a few kilometres of where I live, one encounters Neolithic monuments, Bronze Age burial mounds, Iron Age cemeteries, Slavic settlement history, and medieval fieldstone churches. Much of this remarkable heritage remains little known beyond the region itself, despite its historical significance and enormous cultural potential. These layered landscapes continually inspire my work. Recently, I created a colour version of a pencil drawing showing what the church at Zahrensdorf might have looked like around 1250. While working on the image, I deliberately tried to preserve the handmade quality and atmosphere of traditional historical illustration — something that, I hope, stands apart from the increasingly generic flood of AI-generated pseudo-history imagery. Read more about the landscape I live in and the history behind it in my dedicated Patreon post.
The 25th Berlin Buckler BoutsThis weekend, the 25th Berlin Buckler Bouts will take place, gathering participants from Poland, Denmark, and Germany. As always, the BBB are less about competition than about exchange, experimentation, and the shared joy of sword & buckler fencing. Historical martial arts thrive when people test ideas together, compare interpretations, and challenge one another in a constructive spirit. I am very much looking forward to seeing many familiar faces again. Although the BBB are not organised as a public event, anybody with a genuine interest in historical fencing is welcome to contact me if they would like to drop by as a spectator. Simply reply to this email. Sword & Buckler in SuitsThose unable to attend the BBB but still in the mood for buckler fencing may enjoy a video that recently went live on my YouTube channel. It shows Cornelius Berthold and myself fencing in suits on the day of Cornelius’ wedding last summer. Elegant clothing, sharp movement, and sword & buckler — a fitting combination. If the video inspires you to learn from us or deepen your existing practice, our I.33 online courses are currently available with a 15% discount. Simply use the code SUMMERWEDDING during checkout. Direct links with the discount already applied: • I.33 Sword & Buckler: The Fundamentals Bundle • Course 1 — The Medieval Art of Fighting with Sword & Buckler • Course 2 — Schutzen: Fighting with Sword & Buckler 2 🛡️ Shields up!🛡️ Roland P. S. 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. 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. 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 history enthusiasts and fellow fighters, just a quick heads-up: Spear & Shield Combat is now live! Arttu Peltoniemi and the Hirdmenn team have put a tremendous amount of research, experimentation and training into this system, and I am very happy to finally make their work available through Dimicator School. The 41% launch discount runs until midnight on 11 October. Explore Spear & Shield Combat There are several free previews, including a video chat with Arttu about his approach and...
Hello fellow fighters and archaeology enthusiasts, this week, it is all about spears and shields! On Saturday, 3 October, we will finally release our new online course dedicated entirely to fighting with what was arguably one of the most important weapon combinations in European history. Before we get there, however, I have some remarkable archaeological spears to show you — including a mystery hidden among hundreds of weapon shafts from the bogs of Nydam and Thorsberg. Original bog finds on...
Hello fellow history enthusiasts and fighters, from Roman reconstruction to actually picking up weapons ourselves, there is plenty to explore — and practise — this autumn. Here are the latest news and opportunities. Is This Roman Properly Dressed? A while ago, I shared an animation of the Roman legionary I originally illustrated for the Varus Battle museum in Kalkriese. It prompted some interesting questions. Should he be wearing additional padding and pteruges underneath his segmented...