by Alan Macdonald Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:47 am
Review of The Eddie Quinn Approach Seminar
April 26th 2009
by Alan Macdonald
Entering a seminar hall has always been the same for me. The hushed voices, the sidelong glances, the slightly nervous smiles on some faces, the almost relieved looks as a face is recognised amongst the invariably rather motley crew of would-be pugilists and the expectant buzz that portends the education to come.
Sunday 26th April was no different. A tucked away sports centre in Birmingham was the venue and this time the education was different – this time we were here to be introduced to ‘The Approach’ – the brainchild of Muay Thai guru and accomplished martial artist and teacher, Eddie Quinn. Eddie, with some twenty four years of passionate involvement in martial arts after a near-fatal stabbing caused him to take it up, is a larger than life character with an irreverent turn of phrase that could make a female docker blanch but at the same time inoffensively charm them into a ball gown. His style of teaching is forthright and no-nonsense with a refreshing honesty that demands attention and effort and the filled sports hall was hushed as he embarked on what was to be a four-hour feast.
The Approach is an innovative and effective style of self-defence, a paradox in itself, as the would-be victim very much seizes the initiative. The beauty of Eddie’s concept is both the simplicity of the initial movements allied with the endless bolt-on possibilities that technically could ensue. Forward body motion combined with circular strikes all delivered not with fists or feet that could break, but with the forearms marry into a devastating and debilitating nullification of a would-be aggressor. The central hypothesis is that most forms of striking – a punch or kick – end in a full stop as the target is reached. In order to strike again, the weapon used – the fist or foot – has to recommence its journey into motion from a dead stop, costing time and energy to do so. The Approach teaches that, by ‘rounding off’ the strikes, the weapons being used – the forearms - are never at a standstill, thus ensuring both the speed and efficacy of the procedure. From a basic and essentially simple first manoeuvre the flowing nature of the move grants the option of virtually endless options to follow on.
Eddie began by just the basic movement – one arm first, then right and then left, then onto both at the same time before finally bringing the whole body into the flow. He illustrated how it could be taken from almost a Tai Chi action for the purposes of hardwiring the action right up to the ravaging, stunning attack that would raze any assailant to the ground in an instant. Impressive indeed to see Eddie in full flow, but there is honesty in the effectiveness of the procedure and it is recognisable and reassuring that you don’t have to have the ability of Bruce Lee to do it well. For many reasons this ensures that it will appeal to not just the man in the street but to police, security forces or protection agencies and the like the world over. It’s a universal language.
The four hours seemed like a half hour, such was Eddie’s flow of passionate and true to life commentary, interspersed with regular comic ribaldry (poor Nigel and Charlie!) and it was time to pack up. I for one was left with more to think about the Arts, a new option or skill, a variant to my way of thinking – the principal could be applied throughout the arts couldn’t it? Eddie Quinn, in his own words, has baked a new cake and is savouring it to the full and I for one came away on Sunday, richer, fuller and more sated for the experience. Taste it, you’ll like it, I promise!
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