My martial arts sensei walks like this. Smooth as a cat. He has done Ninjutsu and traditional Jujutsu training in Japan.

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Across_the_Nightingale_Floor

But it's partly out of taking short steps - to maintain balance. If your feet are too far apart you're vulnerable to tripping and leg sweeps and getting unbalanced by being hit in general.

I find it impossible to do toe first if my step is the usual length.