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.
Live Sword Chat – Tomorrow, Sunday 11th May at 20:00 CET!
Nunance in Sword Design and in CombatHello sword enthusiasts, I’ve been invited to talk swords with host Gabriele Damiano on his YouTube channel Rapier’s Delight. Join us for a two-hour deep dive into sword studies, exploring—amongst other topics—the design and ergonomics of bladed weapons from prehistory to the Renaissance, and what they reveal about their use in combat.
See you tomorrow! Yours in arms, Roland P. S. Don't forget to claim your 25% discount on the sword-and-buckler online courses. Use the coupon code FECHTSCHULE2025 at checkout. If you want more sword stuff now, find hundreds of related posts on my Patreon. If you feel like dropping a coin into my tip jar, you can do so here. Thank you for your time and your interest. 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. 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...