I just got a short answer from Vincent Giordano on muay korat and the tiger walk:
"The tiger walk is different from the lion walk in how it fits into the matrix of muay korat. First, it is a drill to open up the opposite sides of the body. Like a "X" it can walked to loosen and open the body, and it looks somewhat like an aerobics drill, which it can easily become. It has that scissoring action of the tigers teeth and the idea as a strategy of using opposite angles to simultaneously attack.
An interesting motion to decode is the elbow part of the simultaneous elbow/knee action, there is a slight twist like turning a screw as it comes down to meet the knee. That elbow can generate power from zero distance, meaning unlike the spectacular elbows which rise and fall, this can drop and screw into the target with lightning efficiency and excellent power.
Although it is presented as a simultaneous action with the elbow meeting the opposite knee, for fighting it can be timed differently as a possible fake, or slightly behind the leading attacking action being the elbow or knee.
Muay Korat is compact and very efficient for a bare knuckle style and the tiger walk has alot of variables beyond the ancient sort of dead pattern that one perceives it to be. Its not just two opposite actions coming together but the beginning of an attacking action and the timings to use it functionally." |