walking backward

The pelvis is a level platform that shifts from side to side through the function of the ball joints in the hip. The ground, legs and pelvis are a parallelogram. A level pelvic platform supports the spinal column  naturally with the least effort. Starting from a neutal position, shift  the weight from the centre point vertical line midpoint between the knees to one side over the centre of contact (the leg/foot).

level pelvis

a level pelvis supports the spine in movement

When we stride walk forwards or backwards, the legs swing thru and then support the body as the foot touches down.

When we step/walk the weight goes totally thru the leg of support which must be directly under the Centre of Gravity.

As the right foot seeks out its position at 45 degrees to the rear of the body, the toe touches first, then the ball, the the arch and the heel. There is a rolling contact with the earth.

body weight goes directly through supporting  leg into  the ground

toe, ball, arch, heel= Full contact

When full contact...the length of the foot toe to heel...occurs, 100% of the weight is on that leg. Though the forward leg is still flat, still in contact with the ground, there is no weight on the forward foot. Your partner should be able to move beside you and give your forward foot a quick pushing movement behind the heel. Your leg should just swing out of the way in the direction of the push.

                               100% on supporting leg,  other leg can do anything

 

If there is any weight on the forward foot, you will lose your balance.
Now in this postion, 100% of the weight on the supporting leg straighten out the left forward foot which was pointing in 45 degrees, the angle it maintained as the previous backward foot. Lift the toe and rotating the heel. Do not rotate the foot on the toe, so that the heel swings. Then to move the left foot behind the body,  lift the left heel and pick up/slide the ball/toe in a semi circle to find its place 45 degrees to the rear of the body.

the back foot at 45 degrees is now the forward foot that has to be straightened

lift the toe, NOT THE HEEL!!!!

forward foot point directly forward

Symmetrical stepping: Drop an imaginary plumb line from a point between your legs under your groin. Walking backward, (or forward), you must place your feet equidistant to that centerline. There are about 25 steps between the 1st and last of these pictures. I started off slightly off centre and ended up slightly off centre...which is to say I kept on stepping equidistant to my midpoint, but I didn't start off equidistant to the center line.

Ooops, I didn't start off equidistant to the center line

15 steps later, still walking in a straight line

Walking backward correctly is essental to the movement Repulse Monkey. As in walking forward, keep the eyes level, the spine straight, and the entire body relaxed. After taking 15 steps, you should be walking a straight line. If you are veering to the left, you are either not stepping wide enought with the retreating right foot, or too far with the retreating left foot. Keep stepping symmetrically, on the railroad tracks. 

Here's a great test.
1. Face your partner. Walk directly toward her, so as to take her space; she has to walk backward to protect her space.  Stop. Is she leaning on you? Is she rooted? Do her hands weigh a 100 kilos if her contact surfact (hands/arms, etc) is superior to your structure? Do her hands/arms support you if your contact surface is superior to hers (your arm on top of hers)?

2. Reverse your direction and walk backward. she has to follow you. She must always be connected with you, in this exercise, preferably with both hands.Is her response time practically instantaneous?

3. Stop abruptly. Does she bump into you?

4. Reverse the direction. You are both lightly touching each others hands. As you walk forward, her backwards , your stepping and her stepping should be confidant, well spaced and she should be able to maintain the cocktail party space between your two bodies.

5. Next test. Walking forward, attempt to touch the center of her chest (later, anywhere she offers a contracted center...shoulder, hip, torso....). She will learn to parry your forward advance.

6. Walking backward, she will attempt to touch the centre of your chest (or anywhere you offer a contracted centre). She will learn to walk and advance with balance.

7. Have one person close their eyes. 8. Have both close their eyes. 9. Stay away from trees with low branches. 10. Go fast, go slow. 11. Turn in circles.
12. If you're both not having fun, better do a humour check.