Step 13: 左搂膝拗步 (Brush Left Knee and Pivot Step)

1. While still sitting on the right leg and with only the left heel gently touching the ground in the front, turn the left toes clock-wise. This will cause the hip to turn clock-wise too. In turn, the whole body (except your head) also rotates clockwise and your right arm automatically lowers until your right palm is by the right side of your body. As you turn, you should continue to look to the front. Do not turn with the body.
2. After you have turned about 60 degrees to the right, stop and turn anti-clockwise instead. Again, start by turning your left toes (still continuing to use your left heel as pivot). This should effortlessly turn your waist and body in an anti-clockwise manner to face the front (the original left facing).
3. This turning back will cause the right lower arm to be lifted (the right upper arm remaining still) and circle in an anti-clockwise direction using the right elbow as pivot until the right palm is facing to the front, at chest level, ready to push forward. At the same time, your left hand will be lowered, also drawing a circle and brushing above your left knee and stop just next to and above the left thigh with the left palm facing downwards.
4. Next, lightly lift up your left leg and take half a step diagonally forward and to the left. Land first with the heel, toes pointing straight to the front and then step down with the whole sole.
5. Shift more weight onto your left leg so that you can turn your right toes inwards a little bit (anti-clockwise and using right heel as pivot) until the right foot is pointing 45 degree to the right and front.
6. Sink the hip deep down and invoke the recoil or 'Gong Tui' (躬腿) in your right leg starting with the achilles, feel the 'Qi' running up the hip then the back of the body to the shoulders and then the right elbow and manifested as a push forward of your right palm. Do not push your right palm forward by straightening the right elbow. It comes naturally as a result of the 'Gong Tui' (躬腿) in the right calf.