12. Suoshen Xiedai (Contract the Body and Draw on the Diagonal) Also known as Shizi Yaotou (Lion Nods Its Head)

    12.1 Lift the Foot and Pull Back the Sword

    Lift the left foot and draw it to the inside of the fight foot, with the left toes not touching the ground. At the same time, hold the sword in the right hand and slightly pull back. Keep the left sword-fingers on the right wrist. Look straight ahead. (Fig. 42)

    12.2 Move the Foot Back and Send Out the Sword

    Move the left foot back to its original place. Holding the sword in the fight hand, send the sword out forward (to the Northwest). Pull the left sword-fingers past the left ribs backhand with the left wrist bent, and thread the sword-fingers to the back. Look at the sword tip. (Fig. 43)

    Important Points

    Stretch the torso forward slightly and send out the sword in the same direction as that of the bow stance.

    Common Mistakes

    · The direction of the bow stance and the extended sword is West (It should be Northwest).

    · The sword-fingers are pulled back to the left side, not threaded backhand to the rear.

    12.3 T-Stance and Draw to the Left

    Shift the body center onto the left leg, then draw the right foot to the inside of the left foot, and touch the ground with the right toes, forming a T-stance. At the same time, turn over the right hand with the palm upward, draw the sword horizontally to the left (the sword tip a bit higher than the handle) with the power going into the edge of the sword. Circle and draw an arc with the left sword-fingers upward and forward, and place the sword-fingers on the right wrist. Look at the sword tip. (Fig. 44)

     Important Points

     When moving the foot back and drawing the sword, turn the body to the left, with the body center on the left leg. Keep the torso upright, relax the waist and hips, and do not let the buttocks stick out.

     Common Mistakes

     · The sword is held with the edges of the blade vertical, the palm inward, the same as in drawing back the sword [See Step 7: Step Back and Draw the Sword Back].

     · The stance is done as an empty stance.

     13. Tixi Pengjian  (Raise the Knee and Hold the Sword) Also known as Hubaotou  (Tiger Covers Its Head)

     13.1 Empty Stance, Separate the Sword and Sword-Fingers

     Step back one step with the right leg, shift the body center back, draw the left foot slightly back, and touch the ground with the left toes to form an empty stance. At the same time, extend the hands forward, and then bring them back to the sides of the body with both palms downward, and place the sword on an upward angle at the right of the body, with the tip pointing forward. Look straight ahead. (Fig.45)

     Important Points

     · For the front view of this movement, see Fig. 102. After separating the hands to the left and the right sides of the body, still keep the sword tip near the body center in front, with the tip of the sword a bit raised.

    · Step slightly back to the right rear with the right foot, and turn the torso to the front.

    Common Mistakes

    · The right foot steps back to the East (It should step to 30 degrees East by North); the sword extends due West (It should extend to 30 degrees West by South).

     · The sword tip swings to the right, far off the middle line.

     13.2 Lift the Knee and Hold the Sword in Both Hands

    Move a little forward with the left foot, lift the right knee forward into a one-leg stance. At the same time, holding the sword in the right hand, turn it outward, draw and swing the sword up in an arc in front of the body. Change the left sword-fingers into an open-palm hand and swing the left hand in front of the body, and hold and lift the sword under the back of the right palm. Slightly bend both arms, and send out the sword straight forward, the tip slightly raised. Look straight ahead. (Fig. 46)

     Important Points

     When swinging the hands to the front of the body, do it in an arc: First move the hands slightly out, then in, and finally clasped in front of the chest. When holding the sword, slightly bend the arms with the handle at chest level.

     Common Mistakes

     · When holding the sword with both hands, the movement goes from a lower level to a higher level.

     · In the one-leg stance, the right knee is too low, the toes point up, or the right knee lifts to the side of the body.

     14. Tiaobu Pingci 跳步平刺 (Jump Step and Stab with a Flat Sword) Also known as Yema Tiaojian 野马跳涧 (Wild Horse Leaps over Ravine)

     14. l Land the Foot and Draw Back the Sword

     Land the right foot in front, with the heel on the ground. Carry the sword in both hands, and draw back slightly downward and back until the hands are in front of the abdomen. Look straight ahead. (Fig. 47)

     Important Points

     Do not land the right foot too far in front, and do not bend the torso forward.

      14.2 Hold the Sword and Stab It Forward

     Shift the body center onto the right leg, stretch out the right leg and drive the hips forward, and lift the left foot in the rear off the ground. At the same time, carry the sword in both hands and extend and send it out to the front. Look straight ahead. (Fig. 48)

      Important Point

      When stabbing, hold the sword at the chest level with the tip a bit raised.

      14.3 Jump and Draw In the Sword

      Push off the fight foot, jump-stride one step forward with the left foot, and then as the left foot is about to land, pull the fight foot forward rapidly to the inside of the left calf. At the same time, separate the hands and withdraw them to the sides of the body, palms downward, and change the left hand into sword-fingers. Look straight ahead. (Fig. 49)

     Important Points

     · Jump forward far, but not too high, and be light, nimble and gentle in the movements.

     · When landing the left foot, turn the toes slightly out, bend the knee as a buffer, and keep the body center steady on the left leg.

     Common Mistakes

     · The jump is too high and too far, and the movement