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Is it possible to change one's walking style?

post #1 of 18
11/23/09 at 12:22pm
Thread Starter 
Is it possible to change one's walking style? Good actors can do it when impersonating a character, can't they? What would be the right techniques to use?
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post #2 of 18
11/23/09 at 12:48pm
I tried going from L-R-L-R to something more thematically interesting, like L-L-R-R, but it's not working thus far.
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post #3 of 18
11/23/09 at 1:36pm
It's possible, but I wouldn't try it without help from a doctor. My gait is actually kind of messed up, and my orthopedist gave me a bunch of exercises to help fix it. I'm just starting them, so I'll be interested to see if they actually work.
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post #4 of 18
11/23/09 at 1:39pm
I was once given advice on how to do such a thing, but unfortunately I don't remember it very clearly.

Something about pulling a stick or something outta somewhere...
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post #5 of 18
11/23/09 at 2:01pm
Ask John Cleese.
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post #6 of 18
11/23/09 at 2:37pm
I've had gfs tell me they wanted me to walk 'more confidently' but I have no idea what that meant- i don't slouch and am relatively well-built, so I don't see what I'm misssing. Go to a college gym sometime, you'll see a festival of guys trying to change their walking style. Most try to stick their chest out, spread their arms slightly like a chimpanzee, and awkwardly look into the distance lest they make eye contact with someone and reveal how frightened they are. A guy actually can get away with a lot of chest puffing without looking weird, I have a "rowers back," i.e. a prominent upper back, so it's a little hard for me.
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post #7 of 18
11/23/09 at 6:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas View Post
I tried going from L-R-L-R to something more thematically interesting, like L-L-R-R, but it's not working thus far.

I needed that.
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post #8 of 18
11/23/09 at 6:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrG View Post
It's possible, but I wouldn't try it without help from a doctor. My gait is actually kind of messed up, and my orthopedist gave me a bunch of exercises to help fix it. I'm just starting them, so I'll be interested to see if they actually work.

Thanks!
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post #9 of 18
11/23/09 at 9:12pm
Depends, is it a posture problem? People say I walk very stiff and serious because I have very straight posture.
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post #10 of 18
11/24/09 at 1:09am
It is, I was concious of it in high school. Now it's second nature. First work on your at-ease posture. Once that becomes natural and thoughtless, move onto walking. It's diffacult to discribe movment in text, but as my dad has always told me "Walk as if you own the place."
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post #11 of 18
11/24/09 at 1:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Newo View Post
Depends, is it a posture problem? People say I walk very stiff and serious because I have very straight posture.

They might just feel insecure about their own walks, or maybe you walk too mechanically. You can have a study walk without looking mechanical. Just imagine gravity is very heavy, and you are a bit drunk. You would have to stand up straight, but still have a casual flow.

Start wearing boots so, so people can hear you approach.
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post #12 of 18
11/24/09 at 1:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas View Post
I tried going from L-R-L-R to something more thematically interesting, like L-L-R-R, but it's not working thus far.

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post #13 of 18
11/24/09 at 2:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reggs View Post
It's diffacult to discribe movment in text, but as my dad has always told me "Walk as if you own the place."
That's good advice, but you have to remember that the fact that you have to think that to yourself necessarily means it's not natural, at least at the start. Most guys I see walking confidently are obviously consciously trying to do so, and it looks weird, but certainly better than not trying at all. I think it involves sticking your chin up a little bit, which pulls out the chest, and greater swagger. It might have some evolutionary connection to the walking posture proto-humans had when surveying the vast grasslands.
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post #14 of 18
11/25/09 at 2:56am
Good question to ask would be why you're trying to change your walking style?
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post #15 of 18
11/25/09 at 3:03am
I finally wised up about a year ago that I was severely overpronating which was causing my shin splints in track, so I made a conscious effort to try and walk properly. After about 7-8 months I walk normally without barely thinking about it at all. If you put in the effort, yes you can change your walking style.

If you're talking about like a strut or some other thing like that, just practice it and keep doing it and eventually it'll become second nature.
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