The Groucho
- Thread starter marineman
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The Tourist
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Well, there's that...and if you say the secret word you get an extra ten dollars.
Pilgrim
Member
No, you aren't right, there is a bit more to it then that. The idea is to take all the bounce out of your walk so that you can shoot while moving.
But this is not a technique you can learn from an internet forum, pictures in a book or from watching a video. The only way to learn is to get instruction from someone who knows.
I recommend Pat Rogers, Jeff Gonzales or James Yeager. There are other quality instructors out there. You just need to do some research. You can't acquire these skills on the cheap. You have to be willing to invest the time and money to learn.
Jeff
1911 guy
Member
Ditto what Jeff said. The technique is designed to eliminate the bounce and wobble that notmal walking causes. Doing the "Groucho Walk" makes for a steady sight picture. It's not hard to learn, but it does take personal instruction and practice, as it's not a natural gait.
Mad Chemist
Member
I'm guessing this is similar to a the way that dancers "run" across the stage/set?
Pat Rogers has an excellent article on shooting on the move in the current issue of SWAT (July 2008) it covers the history of shooting on the move, some techniques, an interesting section on how everyone's personal technique will look different because of body type, and some tips on practicing. It does not teach you how to do it. That can only be learned in one on one instruction.
Jeff
Jeff
I suppose the one figured it out for himself.
Jeff
El Tejon
Member
Bend your knees, relax your shoulders, sink the butt, raise the head and walk heel-toe.
Heel toe is key: I've seen guys try this and then walk like they are stomping on cockroaches.
Float like a butterfly, not a bison.
Heel toe is key: I've seen guys try this and then walk like they are stomping on cockroaches.
Float like a butterfly, not a bison.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
He was the inevitable outcome of instabilities in the Matrix.
the naked prophet
Member
When I was a kid, I was obsessed and infuriated with the way characters in Sesame Street* would bounce up and down when they "walked" behind that waist-high brick wall. I immediately declared that people don't bounce like that when they walk.
I began watching people walk, and studying the way their legs, bodies, and heads moved. Sure enough, people "bounce" too. I lined up two bookshelves with strings at eye-level, and walked directly towards them as they were lined up. I saw how they appeared to go up and down, as measured by my eye position relative to the strings. I tried very hard to walk without a "bounce."
It wasn't until later that year, when doing "indoor kickball" in gym class, during which we were not allowed to run (run being defined as "not walking" and walking being defined as heel-to-toe with one foot always on the ground), that I tried to figure a way to "walk" faster by lowering my body and therefore increasing the length of my stride. I noticed that I could move without a bounce that way.
I went home and rearranged the bookshelves, but this time I put the strings lower so that when I was crouched down, they were at eye level. Sure enough, I could move without bounce, and pretty quickly too.
When I started shooting, and shooting for defensive practice, I naturally applied this technique when moving. I had no idea other people did it, it just made sense to me. No, I'm not an instructor, neither am I a guru of any sort. I'm not the one who taught the other instructors. I just happen to have discovered one technique which apparently is special in some way. I still benefit from instructors, as I did not magically figure out everything by myself, nor could I.
* I have three little brothers, and was not in charge of the TV. I watched Sesame Street far longer than any growing boy should.
I began watching people walk, and studying the way their legs, bodies, and heads moved. Sure enough, people "bounce" too. I lined up two bookshelves with strings at eye-level, and walked directly towards them as they were lined up. I saw how they appeared to go up and down, as measured by my eye position relative to the strings. I tried very hard to walk without a "bounce."
It wasn't until later that year, when doing "indoor kickball" in gym class, during which we were not allowed to run (run being defined as "not walking" and walking being defined as heel-to-toe with one foot always on the ground), that I tried to figure a way to "walk" faster by lowering my body and therefore increasing the length of my stride. I noticed that I could move without a bounce that way.
I went home and rearranged the bookshelves, but this time I put the strings lower so that when I was crouched down, they were at eye level. Sure enough, I could move without bounce, and pretty quickly too.
When I started shooting, and shooting for defensive practice, I naturally applied this technique when moving. I had no idea other people did it, it just made sense to me. No, I'm not an instructor, neither am I a guru of any sort. I'm not the one who taught the other instructors. I just happen to have discovered one technique which apparently is special in some way. I still benefit from instructors, as I did not magically figure out everything by myself, nor could I.
* I have three little brothers, and was not in charge of the TV. I watched Sesame Street far longer than any growing boy should.
crankshop1000
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I use the 'Daffy Duck" as well as the occasional "Curley Howard".
Ske1etor
Member
You wanna learn how to walk at an accelerated pace or run and shoot at the same time you need nothing more than about 30 bucks and google to find your local paintball field. If there is a team there that attends tournaments they can teach you how to run while taking the bounce out of your step.
From a slow walk to a light jog running on the balls of your feet while keeping your knees bent slightly will eliminate most of the bounce while moving.
From a slow walk to a light jog running on the balls of your feet while keeping your knees bent slightly will eliminate most of the bounce while moving.
Cannonball888
Member
It was originally a Marxist combat technique.
Karl taught it to Harpo, Harpo taught it to Chico. Chico taught it to Groucho. Groucho capitalized on it.
Karl taught it to Harpo, Harpo taught it to Chico. Chico taught it to Groucho. Groucho capitalized on it.
zxcvbob
Member
Earworm
Now I've got the song "The Curley Shuffle" stuck in my head.
Now I've got the song "The Curley Shuffle" stuck in my head.
zxcvbob
Member
BTW, if you're not familiar with Groucho, maybe you've heard of truckin' (as in "Keep on truckin")
Cannonball888
Member
The "Keep on Truckin" dude ala Crumb is leaning too far back. Groucho leaned forward which is a better combat stance.
atk
Member
After reading the short descriptions, it sounds a little like how one dances fox trot/quickstep/waltz, if one were to stay lowered the entire dance. Of course, that may make little sense to anyone who doesn't do ballroom dance
sacp81170a
Member
In Kendo you learn how to walk without bouncing, but you have to keep an erect posture and not lean. One of the exercises we have beginners do is to perform ayumi ashi while watching the tip of their shinai held at chudan. A little practice and you can walk without bouncing all day. It really has to do with keeping your heels slightly off the ground, staying on the balls of your feet and settling your weight over your hips and slightly forward.
dhoomonyou
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