Retro-walking
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Retro-walking refers to the act of walking with the face looking forward while the legs step backward.
Retro-walking was recorded in China as early as the 5th century BC in the Kaogongji. Because retreating is seen as a sign of fear, the gesture carried a ritualistic meaning of respect and courteousness in ancient China.[1][2]
Since the 19th century, there have been records across Europe and North America of retro-walking being undertaken as a long-distance challenge or the result of a wager. In the early 20th century, anecdotal reports also emerged of people completing long journeys by walking backwards, often as a display of endurance or an attempt to set a novel record.[3]