In the sit swing forward, starting is the important part. Raise the body as far from the bar as possible, the whole weight supported on the arms ([Fig. 12]), legs straight, chest thrown out. Now with a bold plunge forward you will go right round (that is after a time). The arms must be kept perfectly straight, as in [Fig. 13], and the hands of course reversed as in the leg swing forward.
This feat requires more nerve than any we have yet described, and, as a natural accompaniment, more practice, but it will well repay any amount of perseverance.
Hanging by the Legs.
Sit on the bar, then suddenly slide backwards and drop, catching yourself by your bent knees ([Fig. 17]).
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
You must be very careful not to communicate any swing to the body, but to drop quite straight, or off you will come. Having successfully acquired this exercise, you may now practise swinging by the legs, when as in [Fig. 18], let go with your legs, and let them drop and come on your feet on the ground. This exercise had better be first practised on a bar sufficiently low to allow of your just touching with the tips of your fingers when hanging, in case you hold on too long, and so come on your hands and feet instead of on your feet only. A very little practice, however, will suffice to give you the knack of leaving go at the exact moment, and as this method of leaving the bar is often called into requisition at the end of a series of combined movements, it should be acquired perfectly.