Step 8: 提手上势 (Raise Hands and Step Forward)

1. Transfer more weight onto your left foot, as if you are pushing forward. Your right ankle will be raised slightly too. At the same time, lower your left palm till the lower left arm is horizontal and all the 5 fingers are pointing forward. Simultaneously, unclench the right fist and flatten the right palm.
2. Still balancing on your left leg, turn your body (at the waist) in a clockwise direction using your right toes as pivot till you are about 60 degrees to the 'original front'. Feel as if you are 'elbowing' someone at the back of your right side.
3. Just before you stop turning, twist both your palms inwards to face each other (the yin-yang of Taiji is in play again), like holding onto a very big ball. This twisting will also provide a 'drilling' effect at both the elbow tips.
4. Balancing properly on your left leg, lift your right foot and sweep it inwards to land it gently on the right heel. Do not be seen as you are jerking up.
5. Still balancing on your left leg and the right heel very lightly, turn the body (at the waist) anti-clockwise a little. This will bend the left elbow and raise your left palm while it lowers the right palm because the right elbow is straightened a little instead.
6. Then turn the body clockwise and sink deep down at the hip (胯). At the same time, loosen your shoulders (沉肩), fold your left arm inwards and downwards with fulcrum at the left elbow while you raise your right palm with fulcrum at the right elbow. At the end of this step, bend your left wrist down while you bend your right wrist up*.

* If you are holding your opponent's arm - your left palm holding his lower arm and your right palm holding his upper arm - this action will either lift him up into the air or will snap his elbow joint.