Ronin is the term used to refer to the samurai without a master, the warrior who had been set adrift. One literal translation of this name is in fact "wave man" or "drifting Samurai." The translation was used to designate one who is tossed about aimlessly like flotsam on the waves of the sea.

Ronin were most noteworthy during the Tokugawa period of Japanese history. The Tokugawa Shogunate was responsible for the dissolution of many fiefs during their consolidation of power and the now unemployed samurai were left to fend for themselves. There appears to have been several major groups; first those who had voluntarily tendered their resignation, second, those who were involuntarily "laid off" due to their former employer being unable to afford their salaries, next those who were fired for incompetence or personal indiscretions, and finally those who had backgrounds so questionable they were known for not revealing the name of their last employer.

Of course there were other reasons for being Ronin including being born the son of a masterless samurai. It was also not unusual to request dismissal in order to be free to pursue a quest or particular adventure which he would otherwise have been unable to do, were he still employed by his master.

Of particular historical interest are the tales of ex-military retainers who became Ronin voluntarily in order to right a wrong by seeking justice and exacting retribution for themselves, their masters or their clan. They became Ronin because had they remained affiliated with their master, their actions would have had repercussions and could have implicated others. The Tale of the 47 Ronin is one such example. To this day their monuments are revered in Japan as being symbolic of the higher concepts of character and integrity including stoic personal sacrifice, loyalty and duty.

The Ronin chose various means to support themselves including criminal activities and becoming mercenaries. Some became scholars, some monks and others became teachers of the martial arts. Bujutsu/Budo ended up owing much to these Ronin. Because they were societal outcasts in many regards (no matter how honorable the reason for having become ronin in the first place may have been), they had to be expert in as many methods of combat as possible just to stay alive. Much detailed and intimate knowledge of the martial ways could be gleaned through study with these "free agents".

Here was the supreme fighting man; self-reliant, self-sufficient and self-disciplined. The Ronin was the consummate individualist; unpredictable, relying entirely upon himself, his ability and his skills to earn his way, always ready for the unexpected. In many regards, he was the oriental precursor to the American cowboy and the legend of the rugged frontiersman and indian fighter as portrayed by such film greats as Gary Cooper and John Wayne; and both are the moral exemplars for two cultures, each representing the best and highest qualities of independence and self-reliance, character and integrity.

The Ronin who truly prospered were those who were able to make the transition to thinking for themselves while never losing sight of their moral backgrounds. The modern day version would be the corporate careerist, laid off in a fit of downsizing and corporate re-engineering who, being forced to become a self-employed consultant learns an entirely new perspective on the world around him.

This then is the Ronin Dojo; a group of martial artists who, after years of loyalty and fidelity to their seniors and dedication to the art form, came to the realization that the only way to grow further, expand their vision and to not be limited nor restrained in their perspective and understanding of the martial virtues and ways was to become independent and self-reliant; to become Ronin.