d. Position of the Hands.—The hands grip the rifle firmly, but not tensely. The left hand grasps the rifle just below the upper sling swivel, under the sling. The right hand holds the small of the stock behind the trigger guard. e. Position of the Rifle.—The rifle is held so it bisects the angle made by the neck and the left shoulder. It is held a sufficient distance from the chest to contribute to the balance of the bayonet fighter, usually 10 to 15 inches. The right arm is bent slightly providing a firm, solid position. The extended position of the arms protects the bayonet fighter’s body against an attacker’s blows and permits ready parry movements. In the guard position the rifle is held as in port arms, except that the sling and cutting edge of the blade face the opponent. f. The Growl.—A yell or growl can be effective prior to an attack to temporarily stun the opponent and cause him to freeze momentarily. This yell or growl should be a short, loud, vicious noise, executed in much the same manner as a tiger growls just before he pounces on his victim. The yell or growl adds a feeling of aggressiveness, self-confidence, and force to each attack movement. 203. CHANGE OF DIRECTION a. General.—The whirl is used to face an opponent not positioned directly to the bayonet fighter’s front. Whirl movements are executed by pivoting on the foot of the side to which the change of direction is to be made. The rifle and bayonet are held in the guard position during the execution of the whirl. b. Execution of the Whirl.—It is possible to whirl 180° to the right or left, pivoting on the foot closest to the opponent. It is not necessary to whirl the entire 180° if stopping short of that distance permits the bayonet fighter to face his opponent. 204. FOOT MOVEMENTS a. General.—Proper foot movements must be utilized in order to enable the bayonet fighter to maintain balance and maneuverability of his body at all times, and thus retain the capability of delivering effective attack movements. The feet are picked up and set down with a slight stomp in the shuffle. They are not slid along the ground. On the battlefield there are numerous obstacles to trip the bayonet fighter who slides his feet. One foot is kept on the deck at all times. Never bring the feet together as this results in vulnerability to the slightest attack or push. The shuffle is used to the front or either side. b. Shuffle Right.—To shuffle right, step to the right about 15 inches with the right foot, and follow with the left foot. To move to the right front, execute a partial whirl to the right and then shuffle forward in the desired direction. Figure 3 illustrates steps involved in the shuffle right movement. [Illustration: Figure 3.—Shuffle Right.]