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.
Fechtschule 2025 Photos & Sword Talk Replay
The Guild in the GatehouseHello fellow HEMA practitioners, I’ve just uploaded a folder of photos I took at the recent Fechtschule 2025, hosted by the Hallebardiers in Bruges. The Hallebardiers undoubtedly have the coolest guild house imaginable. Their assembly hall and bar are located on the first floor of a medieval gatehouse—no joke! Emperor Charles V and Napoleon entered Bruges through this gate. And the rent they pay? A symbolic one Euro per year. They certainly make good use of the space—we shared many laughs and more than a few beers up there. The album also includes a few shots from a tour around Bruges’ historic city centre, guided by the inimitable Bert Gevaert, swordsman and scholar. As is often the case, the photographer remains mostly invisible! So if you'd like to see more of Cornelius and me in action, teaching sword and buckler, have a look at our online courses—currently available at a 25% discount as part of the Fechtschule 2025 special offer. The offer expires in four days, on Sunday night. The discount applies to both one-time payments and 10 monthly instalments, with no extra cost for choosing the latter. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions! YouTube Sword Talk – Replay Available NowIn case you missed my two-hour live chat with host Gabriele Damiano on Rapier’s Delight, you can now watch the replay. One viewer wrote: “I was really happy to get your email notification and join the live event yesterday. It was great and super engaging. The intersection of archaeology and practical usage needs to be evangelised more.” During our conversation, we explored sword ergonomics and how my findings influence the modern interpretation of historical swordsmanship. I shared many images from my archive, as well as previously unpublished video footage of handling Bronze Age swords. You will also learn why sword-and-buckler skills are useful for wielding them. If you’d like to watch the replay, you’ll find it here. 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 in arms and scholarship, 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 archaeology enthusiasts, fighters and fellow history aficionados, there is quite a lot happening behind the scenes at the moment — from ancient weapons and practical martial arts research to medieval emperors and historical films. So today, let me take you from a Late Bronze Age spearhead to an upcoming spear-and-shield course, two opportunities to train together, yesterday’s remarkable events in Magdeburg — and finally two film projects that I am very much looking forward to seeing....
Hello fellow history enthusiasts and blade aficionados, one of the great privileges of studying original weapons is that there are things an object can reveal in your hands which are remarkably difficult to recognise from photographs, measurements or typological descriptions alone. But researching an object is one thing; communicating what you have learned is another. Sometimes it takes a detailed drawing. Sometimes, video and photos would do the job — however, permission to share them with...
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...