Is walking only controlled falling?

Question

When you walk you catch yourself with your next foot. If you didn't do this you will fall...

So therefore wouldn't it be controlled falling?

Answer 1

Yes, just about defying gravity, or compromising with gravity, and in the process going places !
A toddler , a child learning to walk , is a clear demonstration of this... the child is fully focused on just not falling, and realises that he covers a distance too, is derivative observation in the child's perception ! If this is maintained in our awareness during later years, very less chances of falling when we step on a banana skin (the usual example of skidding to a fall).

Answer 2

I use to think it was, but I later realized it is actually controlling forward motion with synchronized placement of pivot points. If you were always putting the next foot forward at the apex of the forward leg’s pivot, then it could be controlled falling, but we put the next foot forward and the momentum of the forward motion propels us over the forward leg’s pivot apex. This is the difference. By the way, excellent question! :-)

Answer 3

No. When you stop walking, you do not fall. You do nothing but stand still. In order to fall there has to be momentum and something that slows down or stops the momentum,(basically, I won't get into the physics of this you might get bored.) Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Walking is walking. Falling is falling. This does not need creative thinking to differentiate these two aspect of movement.

Answer 5

left unchecked a person hits the ground so it really isnt falling. walking is lateral suspension, or navigated directional movement

Answer 6

Excellent question....unfortunately I don't think I can ever come up with a sensible answer.

Answer 7

This might be possible if your're deaf and blind...Try it....I think wheelchair would be next to mind...

Answer 8

uhm no but falling could be just uncontrolled walking...

Answer 9

for some, for the rest of us its a balancing act.