This is the system created by Sensei Paul Joseph Fuccillo from his research and intensive study of the martial arts from 1967 until the present. (See Sensei)

The names, Ronin-do and Ronin-do-ryu,  were first used by Sensei Fuccillo in 1981 to describe the combined system of Karate, Judo, Ju-Jitsu, and Samurai Weapons that he teaches in his school, Ronin Dojo (founded 1976).  Any use of these names by other schools or individuals is not authorized, and all rights are retained by him. Sensei Fuccillo has the sole authority to teach under these names, and to give rank. Any school or individual claiming to teach this art does so under false pretenses, and any student of a school or individual supposedly teaching this art should be aware that he/she is not learning the original Ronin-do.

Although Sensei Fuccillo teaches Karate, Judo, and Ju-Jitsu, and is able to give rank in all three as separate arts, it is the combining of all three together with Samurai Weapons that makes Ronin-do unique. It was his fervent desire to preserve the classical arts of the samurai warrior that led him to research what those warriors had to study in order to become samurai. He found out that a samurai trained in many fighting arts, and attended "samurai school", if you will, taught by sensei retained by the daimyo, or lord of the clan. The clan military compound had, in effect, many dojos, each teaching a military art. The samurai, therefore, had a  curriculum of many arts to study in order to be ready for the battlefield.

Consider our own armed forces. A soldier is not sent out to do battle after learning one weapon, but has been trained in several weapons, and also hand-to-hand combat. He/she had to attend "soldier school" (Basic and Advanced Infantry Training) in order to become a warrior. There is a curriculum of study of military arts in order to produce a battle-ready individual. So it was important for a clan leader to have his warriors trained in many arts to forge the best warrior for battle.

CURRICULUM OF STUDY IN RONIN-DO-RYU (Way of the Masterless Samurai Style)

KARATE - A blend of long-range and short-range Karate styles, and Thai Boxing. (Japanese Shotokan, Japanese and Okinawan Goju, Okinawan Uechi-ryu, Muay Thai)

JUDO - The classical Kodokan Judo, as created by Dr. Jigoro Kano           (Throwing, grappling, pinning, chokes, and armbars)

JU-JITSU - The original unarmed art of the samurai. A blend of Kano Ju-Jitsu, Goshin Budo Ju-Jitsu, and Daito-Ryu Aiki-Ju-Jitsu. (Joint locks - wrist, elbow, and shoulder; throws using joint locks; self-defense combinations)

KOBUJUTSU  (SAMURAI WEAPONS) - Staff, Sword, and Spear Arts           Kenjutsu (Sword) - Bokken, Suburito, Fukuro-Shinai, White Stick (Araki-Ryu)  Bojutsu and Jodo (6 foot and 4 foot) - Oak staffs                                   Naginata-Jutsu (7 1/2 foot Halberd) - Oak and padded blade                           Yari-Jutsu, or So-Jutsu (9 foot battle spear) - Oak and rubber tipped            Yariko-Jutsu (6 foot castle or cavalry spear) - Oak and padded blade         Wakizashi (Short sword)                                                                         Tanto (Knife)                                                                       

    In order to obtain rank in Ronin-do-ryu, a student must pursue studies in Karate, Judo, and Ju-Jitsu simultaneously. After achieving a yellow belt in Ju-Jitsu, the student starts to learn the basics in Ken-Jutsu. When the student achieves a yellow belt in the other two and has spent at least 6 months with the sword, the student receives an orange belt in Ronin-do-ryu and then starts to train with the staff. From there, the student continues training and receiving belts in the three unarmed arts, and also continues to train with the sword, staff, and begins other weapons. This simultaneous training allows the Ronin-do student to experience the inter-relationships between the arts, producing true warrior training. A Ronin-do black belt will have at least 8 years of combined martial art training, and will have a black belt in Ju-Jitsu, high brown belts in Karate and Judo, strong in Ken-Jutsu, and good expertise in the staffs, naginata, and yari. They will experience combat in all of these weapons, and be able to free-spar using Karate, Judo, and Ju-Jitsu techniques. The black belt ranks continue to train in advanced techniques and the other weapons, culminating with the awarding of Sensei level (3rd degree black belt), which by that time the black belt will know all of the weapons listed above, including kihon (basic technique), kata (forms), and combat. A Sensei in Ronin-do will also have black belts in Karate, Judo, and Ju-Jitsu, and will be an expert in the martial arts. Ronin-do-ryu is meant for the serious student of Japanese martial arts and requires strong dedication, determination, and spirit. It is a lifetime study.