The food came round which was actually a lot better than last time. The two actors on my table were Reggie Bannister who was in the Phantasm movies and JD Hertzler who played a Klingon in one of the star trek series. They really tried hard to talk to everyone about movies and whatever else came up. Looking around the restaurant I saw David and Jay in a corner with Michael Jai White and a few other people. I didn't want to try and go over and disturb them at this point so I just sat and ate. After the food was over I got up and went to see if I could find David. I eventually found him standing outside having a smoke with Herb Jefferson. I went up and said hello to Jay who recognized me immediately. I told him I'd written up an account of our meeting last year that was now on the internet on a site Alisa set up and he said "I know - I read it." He then pointed me out to David saying, "You remember him, he spent an hour or so with us last year." Though David didn't seem to remember me at first, he said something to me that unfortunately I can't remember - I was definitely feeling star-struck again despite having met him last year. He was in the middle of telling an old Hollywood anecdote involving Victor Mature and Bing Crosby. David seemed in splendid form, talking with great verve and animation. I must say he really appeared to be in great shape, mentally and physically. Herb Jefferson started talking about working with the director Henry Hathaway and David said that "he once wanted me for a part, he called up my agent, but it wasn't right for me."

Also standing around smoking was a young woman. Herb asked her what she did, and she said she was a student, studying classics.

David: Does that involve literature? Have you heard of Heraclitus? You know, I've talked to philosophy students and some of them don't know about Heraclitus

Herb: Was he something to do with Socrates dark shadow? (I think Herb was referring to the "Allegory of the Cave" by Socrates which is great).

Anyway, as nobody else seemed to know about Heraclitus this was my cue:

Me: He was the guy who said, "You can't put your foot in the same river twice because it becomes a different river."

David: (turning to me) Hey! I'm in exalted company here! You know he also said, "You can't put your foot in the same river once because it's changing as you put it in."

Me: I know about Heraclitus because you recommended him in 'Spirit of Shaolin'. (Actually, that quote about the river is included in the book) I've followed up all of your recommendations in that book.

David (smiling): So now it's my fault is it!

Me: It's really changed my life - though I know I'm about the millionth person to tell you that.

David then started talking more about Socrates.

David: Apparently there's no other mention of Socrates outside the Socratic Dialogues written down by Plato - so there's actually the possibility that Plato made him up. Also, Don Juan (a shamanic sorcerer featured in books by Carlos Castenada considered controversial because of their magical content) - I knew some people who were close to that story and maybe it's not that Carlos Castenada invented Don Juan but that Don Juan invented Carlos Castenada.

At this point the young woman mentioned Jesus and how the sources for the Bible are controversial. David agreed with this and launched into a long discourse about the Bible and the Apostles and it's obvious he knows a lot about that subject. Standing around listening to David speak really brings across what an original mind he has and how knowledgeable he is about a lot of subjects.

While we seemed to be on the subject of controversial books I thought I'd mention a couple more. Again, they are both books that are in the bibliography in "Spirit of Shaolin."

Me: That book "The Third Eye" by Rampa Lobsang (an autobiography of a Tibetan monk) - the author wasn't in fact a Tibetan Monk but an Englishman.

David: So you found that out.

Me: And "All Else Is Bondage" by Wei Wu Wei - he was actually an Irishman.

David: Wei Wu Wei is a Taoist pen name.

Me: I know, but that particular book was written by an Irishman.

David: Really. There's an interesting book called "How The Irish Saved Civilization." It tells how after the fall of the Roman Empire Europe went into an age of barbaric warfare but there were these monks from Ireland who copied and preserved a lot of the classical writings that were later re-introduced into the mainstream. It's a really good book. When I was in Ireland I talked to some people there about Irish history. There was one guy who was sort of like Indiana Jones.

Me: You also recommend The Lord of the Rings.

David: Some of the books I recommend are funny. Have you read the "Illuminatus" trilogy? They're pretty funny.

Me: I liked "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse.

David: Yeah, that's about the Buddha. "Magus" by Herman Hesse is pretty good as well.

I then mentioned to David how much I'd been enjoying "Barefoot Chronicles" in Inside Kung Fu

David: You've been getting that? I'm on the cover this month.

Me: It was fascinating reading about the training you did for Kill Bill with Yuen-Wo Ping and Sonny Chiba. It must have been pretty arduous.

David: No, not after the first week.

Me: It was great reading how you cut down the Bamboo from the temple to make into flutes.

David: Yeah, I've still got it. You have to give it time to mature before making them.

Me: Do you think that Tarantino realized his vision with Kill Bill?

David: Yeah, definitely. He's such a good writer. The best technical director I've worked with.

Me: Better than Bergman?

David: Yeah - Tarantino's mad but he's not twisted.

Me: Whereas Bergman wanted to kill animals in his films.

David: He did kill them. He burned a dog alive. He told me - 'I'm a prostitute' - but I don't think prostitution is immoral. Sam Peckinpah killed chickens for a film - but then, chickens are just so stupid. They're about as intelligent as cockroaches.

Me: Kwai Chang Caine wouldn't say that.

David: Well I'm not Kwai Chang Caine! I once was talking to a vegetarian and he told me the important thing was the sentience of animals. I told him a redwood is probably a lot more sentient than a chicken. I've read "The Lord of the Rings." He just couldn't see the humor of it.

About then Michael Jai White came outside and David told him we'd been discussing the bibliography of his book. A car pulled up to take the actors back to their hotel. I said goodbye and wandered back inside. That had been a very interesting time with David, hanging out with him like that. And there was still tomorrow to come.

The next day I went to the Expo proper. There were lots of actors from Star Trek, Buffy, etc and the place was pretty busy. I got some autographs from the Star Trek actors and from Erin Gray, who, incidentally, is massively into tai chi. Then I went over to David to try and grab a few more questions.

Me: You said last year there were plans to do a movie version of kung fu - any more developments there?

David: It's still around as an idea but there are no definite plans yet to make it.

Me: Are you going to be doing a movie about rap music? (as had been reported earlier in the year).

David: That's been delayed.

Me: I see the workout tapes have come out on DVD.

David: Yeah, -and the series is coming out as well. I've also done some interviews to go along with that.

Me: Did you do any wire work in Kill Bill?

David: They trained me up for it but then Quentin thought he wanted me appearing naturalistic so I didn't do it in the film.

Me: I liked reading your Barefoot Chronicle about Kam Yuen, telling how he used to be a bit of a punk when he was younger.

David: Kam's always been a punk!

Me: His healing techniques are incredible - you can eliminate pain just by thinking about it.

David: He can actually do that over the phone.

Me: Yeah I know - I've studied his stuff over the internet and I can actually do it myself now.

Finally I expressed to David how much his book 'The Spirit of Shaolin' has influenced me.

Me: The way you define kung fu in your book is so great - 'Looking for a way among the questions. Striving, through perseverance and discipline for a higher plane of life on Earth. One without fear or anger, and with everything in balance. That's what kung fu is all about'. (I actually quoted that paragraph which is from the chapter 'The Essence' in the book.)

David: Wow - that's great! I should read that book!

David then picked up a pen and started writing it down himself. That was obviously a great moment for me. I then asked David to clarify the words to his song 'And then she smiled'.

David: It's tote that barge, and lift that bale from the cradle to the grave. Is paradise completely paved? Well there really isn't any time to save.

Hope you all enjoyed that account.