The invention relates to a variable-stiffness continuous type mechanism based on an air pressure locking principle. The variable-stiffness continuous type mechanism comprises a continuous type mechanism body, a state switching device used for changing the stiffness and flexibility states of the continuous type mechanism body and a pose control system used for controlling the bending degree of the continuous type mechanism body; the continuous type mechanism body is formed by a base and joints through friction sliding blocks, the base and the joints are connected in series, one end of each joint is provided with a connecting disc with a square shaft hole, and the other end of each joint is provided with a first friction disk provided with a round shaft hole; and each friction sliding block comprises a second friction disk matched with the corresponding first friction disk. The state switching device comprises a cylindrical silica gel air bag, an air guide pipe and a port. The pose control system is composed of steel wires and a driving motor, one end of each steel wire is connected with the joints, and the other end of each steel wire is connected with the driving motor. By means of the variable-stiffness continuous type mechanism, the technologies of positive pressure control and air bag locking are adopted, the continuous type mechanism can be extremely high in stiffness in the locking state, the response speed is high, rigid and flexible state switching is rapid, and the beneficial effects that the stiffness is variable, the response speed is high, and the positioning stiffness is high are achieved.