08Front snap kick
Knee up, foot out, knee back
The sole meets the palm
13Slow orbiting shot in a stone courtyard at dawn, a Chinese wushu athlete in a red silk uniform performs a single outside crescent kick, cinematic, slow motion, the camera arcing a quarter circle around her. 0–2s: she stands upright, left palm raised in front of her face as a target, mist drifting past. 2–5s: her straight right leg sweeps up and across in a wide arc from inside to outside, the sole of her foot slapping her raised palm, silk rippling. 5–8s: the leg lowers smoothly and she finishes in a poised stance as the camera completes its arc. Throughout: full body visible, a carved wooden gate behind her, soft gold backlight through the mist.
Crescent kicks are arcs. A front view shows the sweep, and the slap against the palm marks the top of the arc.
08Knee up, foot out, knee back
09The heel through the board
10The shin swing