Instructions in All Kinds of Gymnastic Exercises (extract)

54 be perfect, the descent will be so likewise. The general fault in the descent is, that the leaper, immediatelyafter having passed over the cord, falls to the ground perpendicularly. See the annexed figures, in which a is the placewhere the spring is made, c the section of the cord, h the position of the leaper when over it, d his regular, and e his faulty descent. The latter is faulty because it bringshim out of the balance. In order not to fall backward,he is obliged to run back­ ward to d; if, on the contrary he descends in an equal balance to the ground, he does not move an inch from the spot where his feet touch the ground. This complete rest im­ mediately following the descent, may be considererd the sign of a perfect leap. The descent must, as already explained in the common leap, take place upon the balls of the toes, and with a proper sinking of the knees. The position of the body is sufficiently