No. 11. The Snap Up.
11. The Snap Up.
Lie on back, carry feet up and back over head so that the toes nearly touch the ground, bearing the weight on the back of head, neck and shoulders. The hands should be placed on the ground near shoulders and neck. Give a quick hard whip with the feet and legs over toward first position and a hard snap or push up with the neck, shoulders and hands. With a little practice it can be done without the aid of the hands. It is a pretty act and a good “finish” to every act ending with a fall on the back. (See illustration.)
12. The Elephant Walk.
A comical contortion act. Place hands on floor in front of feet as near to toes as possible. Do not bend the knees. Walk.
13. The Long Dive or Lion’s Leap.
This is a long dive made on the mats or some soft place, much as one dives into the water. Take a short run, strike both feet at the same time on a spot about five feet from the mat, make a dive toward the centre of the mat striking first the hands, then the head (which should be well turned down and under), allowing the force of the dive to be about equally divided between the hands, neck, head and shoulders. Curl up well as in No. 5.
14. The Hop Over Hand and Foot.
Grasp left foot with right hand, with thumb of right hand under great toe joint; fingers of right hand over top of toes with backs of fingers up. Jump over hand and foot with right foot. The point to be observed in performing this trick is to keep the right hand and left foot perfectly still while jumping with the right. If moved, they are apt to trip the foot when jumping. This is excellent practice in developing quickness in handling the feet, which is an important factor in tumbling.