Bug, more stalking

[Timber]

Bug;

I forgot something, and I need to say thank you, also, speaking to you on this topic is making me continualy examine what I am doing and why. Thanks

Stalking at very, very slow speeds was first and foremost on my mind. It's something I intentionaly practice as it is usually an end move and mostly used in the situations of greatest stress, highest risk vs. gain. But I have been noticing that I stalk at many speeds and in many postures, my deep crouches don't last as long as my fully upright stalks, for strength reasons.
Also, I am remebering that one of the reasons I like house stalking is that it makes me think how I am placing my feet, particularly when I am walking through hallways and am seeking not to touch any surfaces, as well as walking amoungst the many natural obstacles around my house.

It can be an eyeopener sometimes finding a hallway barely wide enough to fit through if you are not very careful as to your foot placement and how much balance you need to walk very close to walls, and then freezing, holding a position that is uncomfortable or precarious.

One leg strength excercise I forgot is simply going through the stages of a squat, maybe breaking it down into four or so positions and holding each one as long as possible.

Thanks again, Bug, I'm finding I'm learning alot, it's very nice.

 

[bug]

My new motion detector was ordered yesterday Timber. I'll use it when the wife is gone. I'll sneak up on her when she's around. I'll even go outside and stalk animals if the snow ever gets off the ground around here and it warms up.

Do you have goals stalking in the house? Is there any special way you try to place your feet? I remember vaguely, I believe in Mr. Brown's books, about two ways of stepping: 1. bringing the rear foot only to the support foot (short step) and 2. bringing the rear foot past the support foot (normal step). Am I inventing this Timber?

Is there a stalking step for speed?

Thank you for the squat exercise.

Take care,
bug


[This message has been edited by bug (edited 04-02-2001).]

 

[Timber]

The house is just a very known environment, you walk through it every day, mostly, without hitting and falling into the walls.

I was noticing that I have to place my feet one in front of the other in order not to touch the walls of what I take as a normal, somewhat wide hallway. I tried different stepping methods, such as bringing the feet forward parrallel rather than in line, and found that I could not keep from hitting the wall, I never thought about that before, I just did it. But it was great to be confused as to why this was happening, to be able to go back and walk through the passage normaly and become confused all over again, noticing that I was nowhere near touching the walls. It really focused my attention on my feet, made me see with open eyes how I was placing them.

In the woods I would sometimes find myself, apparently, misjudging how far I was from an object, having to take half, and corrective, steps in order not to rub up against a tree or whatever else.

In taking another look at what I do, in order to communicate it as accurately as I can to you, I realized that my misjudgement just has to do with where I place my feet. The distances are correct but in order to take short steps I was bringing one foot ahead but alongside the other. I should have been doing those half-steps you described or taking longer and moving the foot to the front, still in line.

I would say just do whatever interests you. Make it a game. The most important thing is that you maintain your sense of wonder and enjoyment. Follow your heart with this. The end goal of stalking is to avoid detection, or mostly, I like to openly stalk my dogs because they react in such funny ways when they see you crouched down, moving extremely slowly in such a delibrate fashion, while fixing them with your eyes, a great example of what not to do with a deer, but fun, try it.

Another fun thing is to use the very, very slow movements, generaly head and body only, in situations where you are waiting in public. You might find that you can turn completely around and no one will notice, typicaly they see you as just standing in a relaxed but still posture. It gets more awkward if you are raising your hands or legs, or going from a seated to a standing position. Standing or sitting people expect to see you there for a bit and don't pay to much attention to you, seeing you with your hand in the air for ten minutes looks a little odd, at least in my experience.

Cats are great ones to watch at times, It's just amazing the amount of strength they have for some of the low stalks and freezes they do. Deer will also stalk away in some instances.

Stalking into an area, or just being still long enough for it to settle down again gives you such great rewards. The whole forest becomes alive, stalking out is the counter part to the motion detector and the living room, instant feed back, but with a longer reset time than even the drive way lights.

Tom talks alot about the heel to toe (gravel and such) and the toe to heel (forest floor, dirt trails, etc.) foot landings. I don't walk much in tall grasses so I am not very good about removing my trail, which is another manner of placing and lifting your feet. But he does get into that as well. Most of this you pick up yourself through practice and desire as well as from other people like yourself.

 

[bug]

Just finished 45:00 minutes of stalking my yard, Timber. It's 06:30, raining, lightening and thunder. For the first time I was able to stalk past my drive-way motion detector light without setting it off. Thank you for the teaching and motivation.

Take care,
bug