If you’re doing the duck walk for exercise purposes, a slightly higher stance (thighs about parallel to the ground) will be more muscularly demanding.
Engage your core by squeezing your abdomen. Don’t allow your torso to lean or turn as you start the walking motion.
Ankle flexibility is important at this stage because it makes balancing on one foot much easier.
Hold your arms in front of your body or out to the sides to help you balance.
Try to cover 10-12 feet at a time by duck walking, or aim for a specific number of steps to complete. Increase your steps or distance over time as you get better. After every few steps, stand up and give your leg muscles a chance to recover.
Chuck Berry did his signature duck walk quite low. This made it look impressive and memorable, and also a bit humorous. Angus Young from AC/DC, another notable representative of the move, tended to stay in an upright stance, making it look more like a game of hopscotch. [7] X Research source
Since the “rock and roll” style duck walk is done on one leg, it can be harder to balance and may tire you out faster. Try switching up which leg you use from time to time until you can do it on both sides.
Make your hops small and controlled. Your head shouldn’t bob up and down too much while you’re traveling forward. If you want your duck walk to look more like Chuck Berry’s, flare your non-hopping leg up and down a little with each hop. [9] X Research source
Practice while holding or actually playing your instrument to see if you can pull off the two tasks simultaneously.
You’ll find it easier to move around and get into challenging positions after your muscles have been primed. An energetic stage show can make a good substitute for a thorough warm up.
You can also stretch your ankles by getting down into a full squat and leaning over the balls of your feet while making sure your heels remain on the floor.
Don’t neglect to stretch if you feel stiff, as it can greatly reduce your chances of getting hurt. The only thing you want to tear up is the music.
Those with arthritis or mobility issues should think twice before playing around with squatting movements. If you experience pain at any point while duck walking, stop immediately.
