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eyebrow level. Simultaneously, withdraw your left fist, palm down, to your left hip (Fig. 13). As you step forward with your left foot, DRILL your left fist upward (Fig. 14), open it, and strike with it over your retreating right fist, which open palm down near your groin. Your left foot is now on a line slightly to the left (about a fist's width) of your right heel (Fig. 15). The length of your advancing step should accord with your height.

      You are now in the san-t'i ("three essentials") posture, the basic Hsing-i posture, which generates both the FIVE FISTS and the TWELVE ANIMALS (Fig. 16). Your head should press up as if balancing a book, your elbows and shoulders should be held down, and your knees should be well bent, thus lowering your hips, forming a crease where your lower abdomen and thighs meet (the inguinal area). Your weight should be distributed so that the rear leg supports 60% of it. Your left arm should be extended, the elbow slightly bent and the fingertips at eyebrow level. Your left hand should be open and stretched to form the "tiger mouth" as it strikes forward. Your open right hand should be held palm down, but the fingers pointed upward to protect the groin. Finally, your eyes look at your left index finger, gazing past it, focusing on a point ahead.

      THE FIVE FISTS

      1. SPLITTING FIST (P'i ch'uan)

      The SPLITTING FIST moves directly ahead (Fig. 17). Continuing from san-t'i, as you shift your weight rearward, retract both of your hands into fists downward as if pulling on a rope (Fig. 18). Take a small step forward with your left foot, toed out at 45° and DRILL forward with both fists as you shift your weight onto your left foot. Your left fist leads your right fist, DRILLING, and ends, palm up, at eyebrow level. Your right fist touches your left forearm between the wrist and the elbow (Fig. 19).

      Next, suspend your right foot at your left ankle (Fig. 20). Then take a full step forward with your right foot, pushing off your left foot. (Kuo Yun-shen said: "The rear foot holds strength as though you are going to leap off it across a ditch"; but step, don't jump.) Open your fists, palms down, SPLITTING your right hand over your retracting left, as all your weight shifts forward onto your right foot (Fig. 21). Next, follow-step a half-step forward with your left foot and shift 60% of your weight back to it (Fig. 22).

      NOTE: All striking steps push off the rear foot and follow-steps are always half-steps.