Two　simple　and　effective　gait　recognition　methods-model-based　and　model-free　are　described.　The　model-based　method　is　sorts　to　a　skeletal　model　of　the　body.　The　background　of　the　gait　sequence　is　initialized　automatically.　The　body　silhouette　is　segmented　from　the　image　and　is　converted　into　a　skeletal　model　afterwards.　And　then　we　extract　body＇s　static　and　dynamic　parameters　such　as　height,　the　position　of　the　joint　and　the　angle　of　the　body　etc.　The　model-free　method　calculates　optical　flow　among　images　and　gait　features　are　extracted　from　optical　flow.　The　utility　of　the　proposed　method　is　illustrated　using　indoor　video　sequences　in　our　experiments　and　a　good　identification　performance　is　gained.