If you want to impress your friends with an old West Coast dance known as the Crip Walk (or C-Walk), you've come to the right place! See step one to get started.
Steps
Step 1. Learn the history and implications of the crip walk
The crip walk is a dance that originated in the 70s in the south-central area of Los Angeles, among the members of a gang called Crip.
- Originally, the foot movements used in the crip walk served to form the word "C-R-I-P" and were intended to show gang membership.
- Later, the dance was used as a signature by gang members after committing a crime, because the movements left distinctive marks on the ground.
- As a result, the crip walk was banned in many L. A. neighborhood schools, while MTV refused to broadcast rap or hip-hop videos (such as those of Snoop Dogg, Xzibit and Kurupt) that contained the crip walk.
- In more recent times, American culture has appropriated the crip walk and it is no longer seen as a demonstration of belonging to a gang.
- However, it is important to know the history and implications of the crip walk, as its practice could hurt someone's sensitivity in certain situations.
Step 2. Learn the movement
The basis of the crip-walk is the shuffling. To do this, place your right foot firmly on the ground and your left leg straight in front of you, balancing on the sole of your left foot.
- Now, change the position by leaning on the left foot while the right leg is extended in front of you, balancing on the sole of the right foot. As you switch legs, jump so that the movement is smooth.
- Keep jumping and changing your foot - this is the basic movement. Moving sideways or in circles as you jump, or doing a double jump, will make the movement more interesting.
- Variants: one of the most popular variants is the movement combined with football. To do this, place your front foot on your heel instead of your toe and kick to the side.
- Alternate the two movements to make your crrip-walk more interesting.
Step 3. Learn the V
The V is perhaps the best known crip-walk step. To start, bring your heels together and spread the toes to form a V.
- Now change the position to join the toes and widen the heels, forming the V in reverse. Alternate the movement.
- To do this movement correctly, start with your heels together and your toes open. Now rotate the right heel outwards so that the feet are parallel and point to the left.
- Rotate the toe of the left foot inwards (towards the right) to reach the toe of the right, so that the feet form an inverted V. Rotate your right toe outward so that your feet are parallel again, this time pointing to the right. Now bring your left heel to the right, you will be back in the starting position. Try this movement until you do it smoothly.
- Variants: a common variant of the V movement is the back step. Instead of keeping the heels together and forming a V, put one foot behind the other so that the heel of the front foot is against the center (or toes) of the foot behind.
- To make the V movement, you have to make the V with one foot and drag the other foot. In other words, your right foot forms a half V (pivoting first on the heel and then on the toe) as your left foot pivots back and forth in a dragging motion as you move to the right. Then change your feet when you change direction.
Step 4. Learn the heel-toe
The heel-toe is perhaps the hardest part of the crip-walk and the one that requires the most exercise.
- First type: turn your torso diagonally to the right, put your left foot in front, resting on your heel. Pivot on the left heel and the sole of the right foot until the torso is turned diagonally to the left.
- Now jump and switch feet, so that the right foot is in front, resting on the heel, and the left is behind. Practice until the movement is smooth and fast.
- You can make some variations to the movement by doing a double heel toe: do the heel-toe normally, then instead of switching feet, try to pivot twice in the same direction, keeping the same foot in front.
- Second type: the second type of heel-toe is partly the same as the first, except for one detail. Instead of balancing on the sole of your back foot, try to balance yourself on the tips of your toes. Then instead of pivoting on your fingers, drag them to the ground when you change direction.
- Third type: The third type of toe heel involves the same movements as the first, but you have to repeat the heel-toe with the same foot in front, while moving in one direction. Then, starting with the torso turned to the right and the left heel in front, pivot so that the torso is turned diagonally to the left. Now instead of changing feet, jump back to the starting position and repeat the movement again.
Step 5. Put it all together
A good execution of the crip-walk involves a combination of the movements described above, with many variations and a good dose of personal style.
- Try to make movements as smooth as possible: the crip walk is designed as a loose and effortless movement, not a hard and rigid movement.
- Exercise by listening to your favorite hip-hop or rap music and try to follow the rhythm.
- You decide what to do with your arms. Some simply leave them free along the body, others rest them on the hips.
- Remember that each crip walk is unique, so do what feels right for you.
Advice
- Clown walking is the same as Crip walking, but faster, has more movement, and there are no hallmarks of gang.
- If you want more information, watch videos online.
