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The salutation as represented in the illustrations is broken down into its individual elements with a meaning given to each component. Often, the salutation is not executed with such precision and attention to detail. For instance, the scholar and warrior are not often broken into the individual motions. But rather, those motions are mumbled together until meeting at the right shoulder, almost as a single motion or maneuver. The path with which these maneuvers travel is also often varied. Sometimes, the path moves directly to the right shoulder, other times the maneuvers follow an upward circular path to the right shoulder. These variations often have no meaning, but are usually remnants from the style in which the instructor teaches the salutation. Also, the first half of the salutation is often executed as a single maneuver, without any pauses between any motions, until the chambered attention stance.

 

One common practice, that might not be classified as variation, is the period of time the meditation is performed during the full salutation. This length of time can be skipped or can last for as long as a few seconds - but generally not longer, unless needed. This meditation is provided for the practitioner in order for them to become calm and focused in both body and mind. So, meditation length often varies by individual.