After having fairly mastered the pumping movement, you will now be ready for attempting _the hand-balance_--an exceedingly effective exercise, and not very difficult to accomplish. Commence as for the backward pump, and, with an increased momentum, bring yourself up into a hand-balance (Fig. 41). This movement should be first practised at the end of the bars, as in the event of your overbalancing--a not unlikely contingency--you can save yourself by bending the arms, as in Fig. 42. We should also recommend your having two friends to stand by you, one on each side of the bars, ready to catch you in case of a tumble. Having become proficient in the stationary balance, try to walk along the whole length of bars with the hands, still preserving the balance. This will be found none too easy, as directly one hand is moved forward the balance is altered, and there is a tendency to fall over. The correct method of leaving the bars after balancing is by means of the _hand-spring_, which is performed by bending the arms as in Fig. 42, and when in that position dropping the legs and pushing away from the bars with the arms; the result will be that you will alight on your feet after having turned a half-somersault. In practising this also you should have two friends ready to catch you, as your first few attempts are nearly certain to be unsuccessful.
The slow pull-up was described in our remarks on the Horizontal Bar, but upon the parallels it is much more difficult of execution. The movement is shown in Figs. 43 and 44. In starting, the hands should be placed well over the ends of the bars--the wrists, in fact, being over--then by sheer strength raise the body up to Fig. 44. This is the awkward point, and all your exertion and power will be called upon to get right up with straight arms.
The following exercise is also very similar to one described for the horizontal bar, but it is more difficult on the parallels. Stand between the bars, catch hold of them with the hands, and stoop down until the shoulders are level with the bars; then raise the legs--keeping them straight--until the body is in position, as in Fig. 45, when drop right over to Fig. 46; then back again, and continue the movement several times. This is splendid exercise for opening the chest and strengthening the muscles of the back.