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.
Your New Guides to Medieval Sword & Shield, Virtual and Real
New I.33 Online Course Launches This Weekend!Dear sword-and-shield enthusiasts, martial artists, and gamers, Cornelius and I are excited about our new online course on medieval sword-and-buckler fencing, based on Europe’s oldest surviving combat treatise—Royal Armouries manuscript I.33. It will be released this weekend. What we will present to you adds an important set of options to your repertoire of sword-and-buckler techniques, complementing the material covered in our first foundational course, which explores the plays of First Ward (Prima Custodia) against Half-Shield. For my esteemed readers, this foundational course is still available at a 35% discount. In any case, you can look forward to a unique course—and be ready to take advantage of special offers during the upcoming launch campaign! Cornelius on the Fighting in KCD 2If this acronym doesn’t ring a bell, you’re as unfamiliar with computer games as I am. Everyone else will recognise it as "Kingdom Come: Deliverance II"—a medieval open-world game featuring plenty of sword fights, as you might expect. Cornelius was invited by a popular YouTube channel to comment on the authenticity of the weapons, armour, and combat mechanics in the game (in German). Even I found the video highly entertaining, and I must say, the quality of the props and animations is truly impressive.
My Favourite 3D ArtistSpeaking of KCD 2, I’d like to highlight the work of Béla Csampai, an artist whose work I deeply admire. Inspired by the game last weekend, he created his own 3D model of a sword featured in KCD 2. I’m sharing it with you here—not least because it would be perfectly suited for sword-and-buckler combat—if only it were real!
If practicing swordplay in the real world is more to your taste, don't forget to sign up for the Hedeby Bouts and the BBB! So, that's it for today. Take care, and keep your sword and buckler at hand. 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, 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.
Continuity in European Combat Arts? Hello fellow sword enthusiasts, researchers, and fighters, How did people actually fight in close combat 3,000 years ago—and how much of that knowledge survived into the age of the fechtbücher? Mycenaean imagery occassionally shows an overhand thrust known as oberstich in late medieval German combat treatises Recently, a viewer asked why I do not demonstrate the use of Bronze Age swords with what he called a “hammer grip” — essentially gripping the weapon...
Studying Originals, Recreating History Holding an original Bronze Age sword in your hands is always a moment of quiet astonishment. Hello archaeology aficionados, The ingenious design and ergonomics of these weapons never cease to amaze me. Thanks to the courtesy of Professor Harald Meller and Dr Jan-Heinrich Bunnefeld, I had the opportunity to examine several bronze swords at the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle, home of the world-famous Nebra Sky Disc. One of the grips that works really...
Hello fellow bucklerista, You are most welcome to sign up for an action-packed weekend of sword & buckler fencing with practitioners from all over the world. The next BBB are scheduled for the weekend of 30/31 May 2026. Find info on the event and registration here: Go to Event Post We are looking forward to fencing and celebrating international friendship with you at the Berlin Buckler Bouts. Ralf, Roland & the Twerchhau team Attendees of the 24th BBB. Get the group photo here.