A Ukrainian Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for an illustrated encyclopedia of martial arts has already exceeded expectations by 8,378%. In almost a month, the project was able to raise $419,536 from 3,922 backers.
A Ukrainian Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for an illustrated encyclopedia of martial arts has already exceeded expectations by 8,378%. In almost a month, the project was able to raise $419,536 from 3,922 backers.
The project is presented on Kickstarter by the American company VILNO, founded by Ukrainian brothers Danylo and Nazar Ozhgo. Among their successful projects are the NOBEL 2.0 kneeling chair and footrest .
After the success of the book "The Code of Inventions", which was sent to over 100 countries thanks to the support of 5,327 backers for a total of $508,241, the brothers decided that "history is written not only by inventions, but also by conflicts."
"Every invention was born out of necessity, every era was shaped by strategy and the struggle for survival. This realization prompted us to create the "Codex of Military History" — a new encyclopedia with original illustrations," Danylo and Nazar noted in the description of the new project.
The full title of the book is “The Codex of Military History: Weapons, Soldiers, Strategy.” It contains 300 pages of chronicling how conflicts shaped civilization. It weighs 4 kg.
"The book explains how humanity fought, built, and adapted, telling the stories of great strategists, warriors, and inventors. Their ideas shaped the art of war and the balance of power through the ages—from Roman legions and samurai codes to Napoleonic artillery, World War II aviation, and the futuristic exoskeletons of tomorrow," the encyclopedia's content explains.
A team of Ukrainian artists worked on the creation of the book, whose children see the reality of war with their own eyes every day.
"No child should ever see war. But it is important to learn from it—to study the courage, ingenuity, and strategy that shaped our world, and to remember the price of every victory," the project description states.
The artists were inspired by the works of Leonardo da Vinci, so the book's illustrations are created in a medieval style.
Each chapter takes four to six weeks to complete, as artists create the illustrations by hand.
Historians, colorists, editors, and designers also participate in the project.
The cost of the encyclopedia starts at $119. Discounts are currently available.
