From an Amazon Customer's reviews:

This is an incredible book by a profound author. At first I picked it up because I enjoyed reading about his awakening into martial artistry with no formal training, defending potential victims from violent gangs, meeting with a Zen Master and learning meditation training-- and then, much like the founder of aikido, culminating his combined training into the instantaneous realization of what martial arts are really about. . . and then giving many demonstrations in which he defeats martial arts masters WITH ONE FINGER, earning a Ronin (masterless warrior) award from the BUDO council and a 4th degree black belt in Aiki-jutsu. And doing it all while remaining as humble, benevolent, and loving a person as you will ever meet.

Then I got past the amusing anecdotes and listened to what he had to say about how he got to them, and what he learned in the process. I read the entire book in a single sitting; it blew me away, and immediately assisted me in making some tough decisions with courage. I look forward to finding out what will happen when I try the exercises (Dancing to No-Music, Wingspan Theory, counting breaths, etc.) he suggests.

While this book does dive deeply into Zen, that should not frighten away Christians-- Zen is not a religion (Buddhism is), and Turner comes from a very strong Baptist background. This book is also not a self-help book, and you will not put it down and be able to defeat skilled martial artists with one finger-- you'll have to put forth the effort. But _Soul Sword_ does illustrate what true martial artists are still trying to get across to the public-- it's not about arrogance and violence; it's about humility and love.

Zafir faces the "new dawn."

Part 2: Nikita reflects on his visit with Zen Master Kitabu

What "Zen mastery" awakens is present in all human beings. Spiritual mastery, whether in Martial arts or life in general is the result of awakening through grace. There is a steep mountain to climb but the revelation does not come from great effort,  that effort diminishes the power of ego. Asia has long been the enclave of gifted masters. it is my mission to demonstrate that  the liberating power of   awakening is not based on geography or anything external. What was revealed in the mountains or under the branches of the mighty Bo tree can be revealed with equal clarity in Ohio, Hamburg or Liberia. The patriarchs of Asia are respected by me but we demonstrate our greatest respect to any master when we seek to master the course he taught. Remember, even Jesus Christ taught that even though "the student cannot be greater than the master, he can be like the master."

Wherever I am called to "teach," I go simply as an instrument hoping to be used to demonstrate the power of that grace known by many names. Aikidoist speak of Ki and Aiki, Kung Fu people speak of Chi and Yogi may use the word prana and so many others. To me that power that rests in the deep is more than an energy field, not something to be used like electricity. That power is the Jagad Guru himself, the Ultimate Teacher, The Holy Spirit....Wholly spirit but no less a living being than all of us. He is the Guru of  any genuine guru or master, the outward forms of Religions, not withstanding. I . delight in knowing that when my ego is surrendered, it is He, not me, who guides my hands. It is there at that moment of mushin (no mind) on my part that the lesson is revealed forall of us present. Not-I, Not-I.

"Blessed be the Lord my strength who teacheth my fingers to fight and my hands to make war."

Psalm: 144:1

(Thanks Josh, for informing us that the Chapter and verse was transcribed wrong.)

"This is great Video of Kitabu Roshi."

Gleb Esman

The Zen Punch of Kitabu Roshi (Vernon KitabuTurner)

To achieve No-Mind is to free The Spirit to act without impediment.
Jesus also spoke of this phenomenon. Zen is not a Religion. When you experience
the truth of your nature directly and act upon it without hesitation your action
is focused, spontaneous and effortless. Jesus taught his diciples to "take no
thought" so that The Father, The Supreme, might act through them. I see the
means of Zen as tools for breaking down the greatest wall blocking The Path.
The ego-mind is the most persistent demon of them all.

I am grateful to the spiritual warriors of Asia for pointing to what
lies within us . It is with gratitude that I wholeheartedly embrace the
Tathagatha within my own skin, looking neither to the left nor to the right, I
summon him at will. The punch you see is just so. Where does it come from and
how? The sun hung in the universe before there was anyone on earth to see
it. The vast waters swelled into waves and crashed on the shores without
intention. Like lightening flashing where it wills when it wills so is this
punch. It just comes. I am a student of The Way. I yield to the Author of All
Things to experience my true being. I do not need words for this. I sit
and stand, I walk, I lie down. I find these acts to be fascinating. Many people
try to trace my Martial roots to a land or a style. What is the origin of God or
the source of Tao? Discover that and your Zen punch will come without a
trace.

We are all included in this. Zen is just a word for awakening
something fundamental to our true being. We have lost connection with living
soul. The passive path is comforting but I prefer to mount the sky and
wrestle with dragons. This is not the easy path of your mother and father but it
is the path of those who prefer to be "sons" of God rather than mere peitioners
of God. "He leadeth me besides still waters, he restoreth my soul..." The Lord
meets us half way. Restoring the mind...that is what we refer to as Zen
practice. The Zen warror applies his discipline to his own mind and body. One
day he will hurdle the wall of ego and be free.

Kitabu Roshi

Dancing:The Way of Warriors

I never imagined that I would teach a Martial path or Zen for that matter but I grew up in a Christian church under the guidance of Christian parents, so the possibility of being a preacher was not so difficult a stretch. The spiritual path is foremost a personal path. It is not based on what others think of your approach or what you might say about it that is most important. A spiritual path is the distance between the delusion of carnal (flesh-centered) mind and the transformation to a mind that is inseparable from our spiritual nature. Words divide us from the experience and so people sacrifice their own enlightenment to control or define the activity of others.

There is no different between what some call the Martial arts and dance or worship for me. I celebrate the Creator of my life in many ways. The Warrior Way or Zen Mushin Ryu, as I call it is a dance of celebration and devotion. After several days of teaching at Aikido Maastricht in Holland, I shared this spirit with those who attended my Sword of The Spirit Seminar. Sensei Rob Vincken sponsored the event.

OCEAN OF THE SPIRIT

Zen is a Japanese word but the experience it points to was known long before the Japanese people adapted the practice to their culture. The Japanese learned about Zen from the Chinese who called the study, Ch'an. The Chinese were introduced to the practice by Bodhidharma, the 28th patriarch or spiritual descendant of Gotama Buddha..Shakyamuni. In india the practice was known as Dhyana. Both the Chinese word, Ch'an and the Japanese word, Zen, are transliterations of the same word. As awakened individuals emerged they naturally included their cultural spin.  Japanese Zen had the boldness of the Samurai, so its colors are sharp. For that reason, it is hard for westerners to separate Zen from its Japanese flavor.  For some people Zen is merely the art of mirroring Japanese culture but that is far from being Zen. It is flattery, it may be fun but it is not Zen.

Zen is a living experience marked by dynamic stillness, wisdom and traceless action arising from No-Mind or mushin. As such, any activity arising from the exercise of the intellect or ego would not qualify as Zen activity. Immediately, we are faced with a paradox. If Zen activity arises from No-Mind, how do we engage No-Mind when an attempt to do so would be contrary to the practice? Drink your coffee! Eat your Corn Flakes!

What does that mean? Be grateful I am a new generation Roshi. The old school masters would answer with a few well-placed whacks of the kyosaku. Blunt force trauma was considered compassionate Zen teaching. The Roshi gives you a good whack to bring your mind into focus. Whack! What mind did you use to feel that?  Don't think-don't answer show me!

It is said that Religion points to God and Zen points to man. When you want to formally worship God you go to church, synagogue, mosque or temple. Where do you go when you want to acknowledge or meditate on your own spirit?  If you worship God, your spirit connects with heaven. This may seem good to the casual believer. However, if God is in heaven and you are virtually in heaven or struggling to get there, who is minding the earth? Who is manning the planet? Perhaps that is the problem.  Jesus Christ tells us that "a double-mind is unstable in all of its ways." Wouldn't that also include those who are split between heaven and earth?

Zen spirituality is different from the supernatural orientation. Zen awakens The Spirit in man, giving him freedom to explore the vastness of the creation as part and parcel of his own being. This state was hinted at by the biblical account of the beginning of life on earth. Man, Adam, was giving complete charge of not only the earth but himself. Losing that freedom was the greatest lost. Zen holds forth the promise that the individual can regain that crown of consciousness. Still Zen is not a religion. It is more or less shock therapy designed to remind us about something that is already present. Suppose you were born in a building and had never been outside. Let us add that you did not even have a clude that there was an outside or anything more than what you saw day after day. One day a force knocks in the entire North wall and you see a rush of light and colors. That would be a shock but it would also be an undeniable revelation. The Zen experience is like that. Of course, we could use another word, awakening, liberation, illumination. They are just words. When IT happens it changes things.

Wherever you live the experience you have should naturally reflect your own country and culture. If you overly identify with the culture or culture of your teacher you will prevent the course of nature. You must consciously imitate and imitation is not genuine Zen. A Zen teaching says, "when you are really you that is enlightenment. Who knows who you really are? Not even you have the answer to that. It is a discovery revealed moment by moment. I tell my Zen Mushin Ryu, Way of The Warrior disciples. We do not practice to fight but to be aware in every moment. We must catch the falling vase, open the door for the person behind us, see the squirrel running across the fence.  We may never use a fancy technique. We may never be called upon to protect the weak but we will be using our senses and bodily mevements every day. The virtue of the warrior way is in keen awareness of environment, in spontaneity and wisdom in action. We can use that everyday.

Nikita in Bulgaria...Like the Phoenix rising from ashes, victory comes if you endure the flames.

Victory has its rewards but THIS time  Nikita is only kidding us.

KRYVONOS  DESCRIBES  HIS  DAYS  WITH  KITABU ROSHI/AUDIO

Soul Sword Radio: True Victory/with Kitabu Roshi

Sometimes a book can change your destiny. Nikita Kryvonos began playing tennis {+++}in the Ukraine when he was five years old. Now at age 22, he is a naturalized citizen of the United States of America and a professional Tennis player. He has played in the US Open and traveled to Russia with the Davis Cup team as a practice partner. He loves Tennis, and that love has him seeking for a deeper uncerstanding. Kryvonos is always looking for ways to improve himself, on and off the court. One day he he had a strange experience during a match but he could not describe it. People remarked about his form and the power of his serve. My mother bought a copy of Soul Sword:The Way and Mind of a Zen Warrior. After I read it I realized that I had a mushin (No-Mind) experience. I was excited.

I have read many books but this book was what I needed. Kryvonos sought a way to contact  Kitabu Roshi (Vernon Kitabu Turner, author of the book). Now, after several private consultations, Kryvonos plans to come to the Virginia Beach based Soul Sword Zen do (American Vishwa Dharma Zen) and train direction under Kitabu Roshi.  "I could not maintain the mu shin mind," Kryvonos admitted. "It is because you were trying," Kitabu Roshi replied. The Roshi does not promote the spirit of competition but he makes no judgment. Kryvonos understood, "My Tennis racket will be my Samurai sword," he said, signifying that he would approach The Way with the proper attitude. Nikita Kryvonos has agreed to share his progress with the Soul Sword Zen community. Zen is a method for renewing the mind and freeing the spirit from bondage. It can be practiced by anyone who approaches The Path with faith and humility. Tennis anyone? The field may be different but the practice is the same. Look for more on this continuing story.

Raymond Thrasher/Public Information

Kitabu Roshi Comments:

Awakening...transformation is a wonderful experience. There are no words to describe it but still we try. While it is not a result of our effort, there is still work to be done. The spiritual path is called the "razor's edge" because it is hard to travel, not easy. The easy way is just to go along with the norm. Kryvonos had a taste of what was possible. His appetite was whet with anticipation of  the possibilities.  The tennis pro would learn, as all students of The Way must, that we can not dictate or control the outcome of our practice in the midst of practicing. We can not think or will ourselves into No-Mind...mushin. At such a time, we may understand the role of the master.

"Drop it! "

"But master, I carry nothing."

"Drop it anyway."

When you come to the proverbial temple or zendo, leave your brilliant mind, your ideas, your preconceived techniques at the door with your shoes. If you don't, you will walk away with something.

Leaving with something in mind or your mind on something is not a virtue in our practice.

We erroneously believe that we must be able to conceptualize a truth in order to recognize or utilize it.  Zen, not the concept we read about Zen but Zen, itself, is direct experience without the mediation of thought. It is spontaneous, appropiate response that arises from wisdom without  duality. It permits no hesitation between thought and action. They are seamless. Reckless behavior is not Zen. Zen, or its Sanskrit origin, Dhyana includes Prajna (wisdom). This cannot be faked. When Nikita came to see me. He entered an unknown in more ways than one.