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.
Would you rather fight unarmed or with a two-handed axe?
Historical Wrestling or Wielding a Pole Axe …… whatever your choice, good friends of mine can provide you with tuition for either one! Plus, if the late medieval mordaxt is too modern a weapon for you, I have an 11th century Dane axe in stock for you below. I am sure there is something you will enjoy in today's newsletter. Let us first have a look at my old friend Dierk Hagedorn's new book. Armoured Axe PlayThe masterpiece Le Jeu de la Hache, written at the Burgundian court, reveals the art of fencing with a weapon known as a battle axe or murder axe at the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Written by an anonymous master, this unique fencing book - the very first in French - takes the reader into the fascinating world of martial arts. Get an introduction, transcription and a translation into modern German by renowned fechtbuch expert Dierk Hagedorn!
Wrestle with StyleIf unarmed combat is your thing, do not hesitate and benefit from the launch discount for my friend Guy Windsor's new book From Medieval Manuscript to Modern Practice: the Wrestling Techniques of Fiore dei Liberi. Special offer runs out in but a few hours. So go to the sales page and get 10% off the hardback, paperback, and ebook, and use the code wrestle10 to apply the discount. And what is more, you can also get his wrestling course at 45% off too!
Two-Handed Axe of the Viking AgeSee the other of two Dane axe heads which I examined and documented together with my patron Theodor Rosentreter at the Museum of Cultural History in Rostock in December 2023.
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, 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...