QM walking consists in using one of the modes previously described (diagonal, side to side, galoping, hopping), trained at different paces either in active or passive mode as in bipedal walking. The training is mostly performed in frontal posture; the dorsal or side postures require smaller speed and amplitude, when at all possible.
[Pilou's note: the following is a list of exercises more or less organized as a skill progression]
- Study the various walking modes.
- Transition between the different modes, either sudden or progressive.
- Work on the walking pace, from slow to fast, and the transitions between them.
- Walk in a straight line.
- Walk with sudden stops and starts.
- Walk alternatively forward and backward.
- Walk with U-turn left or right. The U-turn can use the arm or the leg as pivot.
- Walk with 360 degrees turns.
- Walk with hook turns right or left, changing direction by 90 degrees or less suddenly.
- Walk sideways or like a crab.
- Walk following curves or a figure 8.
- Walk with a stop in any of the static QM posture: squatting, kneeling, sitting, in plank, etc.
- Walk with long strides in length or in height.
- Walk on three limbs, keeping an arm or a leg always above the ground.
- Walk with one arm and the opposite leg.
- Walk with additional contact of the knees (frontal posture) or the hips (dorsal posture). In frontal posture, bring the knee on the ground just after the foot; in dorsal posture sit on the butt between the step with the hands and with the feet. This kind of walk is useful to provide a rest, to move on slanted ground or without an arm, and to move while pushing an object.
- Walk with one or both forearms. On slopes or to provide some rest, one can use the forearms instead of the hands as a basis.
- Low walk: the limbs are flexed in order to bring the body closest to but off the ground. In such case the speed is very limited and the move tiring, so it should be kept for small distances and can be made easier by using knees or forearms.
- Walks where both pairs of limbs work separately, for instance moving the hands one after the other then the feet, etc.
- Walk on slopes.
- Walk on stairs.
