CHAPTER ONE:

TEACHINGS OF FIRE 火

By STRICTLY on March 31, 2025

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?

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 defined the traditional samurai, who trained to control both their emotions and their physical strikes.

But the samurai didn’t rely on brute force alone.

They paired their intense strikes with mental discipline, mastering martial arts and meditation to control their internal fire.

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 difference between a reckless fighter 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."

"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.”

THE ARTWORK 火

In this debut piece, Ronin strikes, surrounded by flames that symbolise power, transformation, and mastery.

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.

STRICTLY x RONIN

THE FIVE ELEMENTS