Mastering Fire:

The First Chapter in the Strictly x Ronin Five Elements Series

By Strictly Tattoo on March 31

Fire

The energy of creation, destruction, and transformation. It is the force that drives warriors, both modern and traditional, to act with precision, purpose, and relentless intensity. Today, Strictly is proud to unveil Fire, the first in our exclusive Five Elements series in collaboration with Ronin. Inspired by Tu Lam’s journey, Musashi’s teachings, and the Call of Duty Ronin character, this piece brings together modern weaponry and traditional samurai blades, symbolising the harmony of ancient wisdom and contemporary combat.

In this artwork, Ronin stands amidst a roaring inferno, armed with both his signature Call of Duty firearms and a katana, embodying the balance between modern combat and the timeless strategies of the samurai. The flames do not represent chaos, they are controlled, a symbol of focused energy that the warrior has mastered. But what does Fire truly mean to a warrior, and how has this element guided Tu Lam and the samurai?

What Fire Represents to the Warrior

In Miyamoto Musashi’s Book of Five Rings, Fire is a vital element of battle strategy, symbolising decisive action, intensity, and control. Musashi believed that Fire was about more than raw aggression; it was about timing, strategy, and striking at the right moment. He said:

In the midst of battle, timing is crucial. Without timing, you cannot control the fight. Timing must be adjusted to the enemy, but never dictated by them.

To a warrior, Fire isn’t just a weapon, it’s a mindset. It teaches them to channel their passion and energy into decisive action, knowing when to strike and when to hold back. Fire is about balance, not recklessness. It’s about using intensity to overwhelm an opponent while staying mentally composed.

Musashi warned against uncontrolled fire, which leads to destruction without purpose. Instead, he advised warriors to master their inner fire through discipline, creating a calm focus that could be unleashed only when needed. This principle defi ned the traditional samurai, who trained to control both their emotions and their physical strikes.

The Samurai’s Fire: Decisive and Focused

For the samurai, Fire was both a tactical tool and a spiritual force. On the battlefi eld, Fire manifested through overwhelming maneuvers designed to leave opponents disoriented and defenseless. Whether through sudden ambushes or relentless charges, Fire tactics aimed to pressure enemies into mistakes.

But the samurai didn’t rely on brute force alone. They paired their intense strikes with mental discipline, mastering kata (martial forms) and meditation to control their internal fi re. A samurai who controlled their emotions could strike from a place of clarity and calm, not desperation. Musashi emphasised that this mental control was the diff erence between a reckless fi ghter and a true master

The spirit of Fire must be sharp, precise, and unwavering. It is the energy of the moment, but only when controlled does it achieve victory

Tu Lam’s Modern Fire: Controlled Aggression

For Tu Lam, Fire has shaped his entire journey, from his elite career as a Green Beret to his role as the founder of Ronin Tactics. But Tu’s interpretation of Fire mirrors Musashi’s teachings—it is not about uncontrolled aggression, but about disciplined action.

In the military, Fire was mission-critical. Tu learned that acting without hesitation could mean the diff erence between life and death, but that action had to be
deliberate and precise. Today, he channels that same intensity into helping others master their inner fi re through self-defense, mental resilience, and purpose-driven action.

Controlled aggression is about timing, precision, and purpose. Fire without control burns indiscriminately, but when mastered, it becomes a force that can shape your destiny.”

For Tu, Fire isn’t just a combat strategy—it’s a life philosophy. It’s about turning obstacles into fuel, using challenges as opportunities to grow. His teachings help others develop the awareness to strike when the time is right, but also the patience to hold back when necessary.

The First Artwork: Ronin Engulfed in Fire

In this debut piece, Ronin strikes, surrounded by fl ames that symbolise power, transformation, and mastery. His dual-wielded weapons—the iconic Call of Duty Ronin guns and a traditional dual katana—represent the fusion of past and present. The fi re surrounding him is not wild or chaotic; it is precise, intentional, and controlled, much like the teachings of Musashi and Tu Lam’s philosophy.

The katana in Ronin’s hand speaks to the warrior’s deep respect for the traditions of Bushido, while the modern fi rearm symbolises his adaptability in today’s world. The fl ames refl ect the moment when preparation meets action, showing how Fire can fuel a warrior’s journey from discipline to decisive execution.

This artwork encapsulates the essence of Fire, passion without recklessness, power without destruction, and action guided by wisdom. It’s a celebration of turning adversity into strength, a concept that Tu Lam embodies and that Musashi preached.
Fire is a force of creation and destruction, but its impact depends on how you wield it. Just as Tu Lam and the samurai mastered their inner fi re, we can all harness this energy to fuel your journey. Fire teaches us that obstacles are not barriers, they are opportunities to grow, forge new paths, and redefi ne what we’re capable of.

Musashi’s teachings remind us that Fire isn’t just about what happens in the moment of action, it’s about how you prepare, train, and discipline yourself so that when the time comes, you’re ready to strike with precision.

There’s no greater fire than the one that burns inside of you—if you know how to control it, you can light the way forward.

The Fire piece in the Strictly x Ronin collaboration is more than just a piece of art, it’s a reminder of what it means to embrace your own intensity and turn it into purpose. It’s a visual representation of the power within each of us to confront challenges, seize opportunities, and forge our path with strength and focus.

This is your chance to own not just a piece of the collaboration but a symbol of your own journey. Whether you connect with the discipline of the samurai, the teachings of Musashi, or Tu Lam’s modern philosophy, this artwork is a story worth owning.