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.
Why Were Some “Round” Shields Not Quite Round? Plus: New Training Swords
A Shield MysteryHello fellow shield enthusiasts and (pre-)history aficionados, First of all, my very best wishes for the New Year. May the edge of your sword never dull, and may your shield protect you as you step into realms unknown in 2026. Recent discussions with archaeologist Ingo Petri raise intriguing questions about the shape, balance and handling of Germanic and Viking Age shields. From the Bronze Age Herzsprung type to Iron Age bog finds and the Trelleborg shield, subtle deviations from perfect circularity may have been deliberate—and tactically meaningful. In my latest Patreon post, I explore how shield geometry, grip orientation and edge fittings relate to close-combat function, and what experimental practice can add to the archaeological record.
Unboxing New Training SwordsRecently, I received a shipment from Landsknecht Emporium in Hungary — the kind that sword enthusiasts enjoy most. It consisted of three boxes, each containing a pair of training swords from the company’s revised Dietrich range thin-edged blunts, thick-edged blunts, and sharps. If you are on the lookout for very light good value swords that still balance like weapons, read my according post.
The swords will be tested at Dimicator Schola, and we will share our insights with you. From Drawing To SwordIt is always a particular pleasure to see my research being turned into actual objects. My patron and swordmaker Nikolas Miller used my documentation of a type XIII Great Sword from Lübeck to create a version for his personal training. Learn more here. The documentation of its mighty sister sword is waiting for you in my shop. Take a look here. I hope you are all enjoying your favourite winter sports. Remember to always take Walpurgis' advice! 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. Improve your skills with our sword-and-buckler online courses. 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. 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.
Geometry of the Nebra Twin Swords, 1600 BC Harald Meller and myself discussing sword grip designs through the centuries Hello fellow sword and (pre-)history enthusiasts, You may already have read about my recent trip to the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle. Together with Professor Harald Meller, I filmed several segments on historical and prehistoric arms and combat. Demonstrating a late medieval buckler play by Andres Lignitzer with Jonas Radtke Harald Meller and I did not part without...
Exploring Prehistoric Fighting Arts Bronze Age weapons from the inventory of the Museum of Prehistory in Halle Hello fellow fighters and (pre-)history aficionados, This newsletter is all about Bronze Age weaponry — their design, handling, and function. As this email goes out, I am on my journey home from two days of filming at the Museum of Prehistory in Halle, home to the world-famous Nebra sky disc. Professor Harald Meller in front of the Museum in Halle At the invitation of Professor...
Mark Your Calendar Contents of my sword case Hello fellow fighters, sword enthusiasts and living history experts, I’ve just returned from a wonderful sword-and-shield weekend in Berlin, training at the 24th Berlin Buckler Bouts with around forty dedicated practitioners from all over the world. As one of the organisers, I’d like to express my gratitude for a cheerful and safe training environment. It was a physically demanding two days — yet I enjoyed each of my 500+ passes. Thank you all! The...