I am Roland Warzecha, a professional illustrator – and a swordsman. Hence the name ‘Dimicator’ which is a Latin term meaning sword fighter. I present to you cutting-edge research into historical martial arts, and Viking & high medieval sword & shield fighting in particular. I am co-operating with museums, fellow martial artists and scholars worldwide. Renowned expert for historical arms, Dr Alfred Geibig, says: “The careful reconstruction of historical swordsmanship, impressively demonstrated by Mr. Warzecha, is a valuable supplement to archaeological insights, and clearly proves the efficiency of European swords and the sophistication of the associated historical fighting arts.” To get regular up-dates on the archaeology and history of sword & shield and how they were used, sign up for my newsletter! I would be delighted if you would join my quest.
A 1200-Year-Old Sword from Northern Germany, plus Choosing a Buckler
A Mighty WeaponHi sword people. In 2020, my friend Ekkehard and myself had the privilege of examining and documenting a relatively well-preserved Petersen type H/Geibig 5 Var. 1 sword from around 800 with an iron blade inlay which had been found in Fedderingen in northern Germany. I revisited my files and ran a geometric analysis of the sword's proportions. I was not even expecting this early sword to conform to any systematic design. But historical artefacts are always good for a surprise. See what I found out:
Hedeby Bouts 19–21 April 2024There are a few spots left. If you want to join in, send me a note swiftly by responding to this newsletter, please, and don't forget to include your signed waiver with your registration. No waiver, no fencing! All relevant forms are attached to the info post.
Buckler? Which Buckler?At a recent training, some students asked for good buckler resources and contacts to suppliers. I have updated a respective 2020 post which you might find useful if you are a buckler enthusiast.
Berlin Buckler Bouts XXIYou are welcome to join and sign up for the event which takes place in Berlin on the weekend of 25/26 May 2024.
If you cannot attend but wish to learn from Cornelius and myself, you can find our online course 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 forward 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 am Roland Warzecha, a professional illustrator – and a swordsman. Hence the name ‘Dimicator’ which is a Latin term meaning sword fighter. I present to you cutting-edge research into historical martial arts, and Viking & high medieval sword & shield fighting in particular. I am co-operating with museums, fellow martial artists and scholars worldwide. Renowned expert for historical arms, Dr Alfred Geibig, says: “The careful reconstruction of historical swordsmanship, impressively demonstrated by Mr. Warzecha, is a valuable supplement to archaeological insights, and clearly proves the efficiency of European swords and the sophistication of the associated historical fighting arts.” To get regular up-dates on the archaeology and history of sword & shield and how they were used, sign up for my newsletter! I would be delighted if you would join my quest.
AI, Combat Training & Martial Dress Accessories How to get from A to B with AI? Hello fellow history geeks and martial artists. This newsletter's title sounds somewhat confusing, doesn't it? But when you read on, it will all make sense. Let us start with an image that will feature in my up-coming book. I created the original version of the above illustration last year. It depicts hunter-gatherers sneaking up on reindeer in northern Germany about 10,000 years ago. However, I needed to expand...
My pencil drawing of a Vendel period warrior A Mystical Hero and a Dragon Hello Vendel fans and dragon slayers As you may know, I am busy writing my long-awaited book. For one of its paragraphs I re-read the famous dragon slayer tales of Sigurd/Siegfried, and Beowulf armed with their mystical swords Gram/Balmung and Naegling – which prompted the making of a respective illustration. 2024 version of a 1999 illustration of mine If you want to see my Beowulf illustration, and learn more about its...
A Home for a Sword The scabbard Christina made Hello sword enthusiasts. A good sword needs an appropriate scabbard. My friend and fellow buckler fighter Christina had been aware of that for a long time. Last year she approached me and asked if I was willing to supervise her work if she would make scabbards for her training swords. I said I would. So today I will present to you one of the two scabbards she made. I think she did a great job. I have compiled some photos of details for you in a...