When I was taught to conduct at university it was made clear to all of us that the beat happened on the downward action by 'hitting' an imaginary line, level with one's breast line!
I have, unfortunately, seen quite a few videos where it is clear that the conductor is a 'puller', as it was called. That is to say they give the beat by pulling away from this imaginary line as if yanking a piece of chewing gum off the pavement.
So long as the choir know if they have a push or a puller it doesn't matter, I suppose, but it is irksome ot watch.
If you want to see this happening, watch some visiting choir videos on YouTube at Canterbury cathedral.
As a rider to this, there as a habit of some choir conductors in the 1980s to direct with their fingers pointed towards their bodies (no baton) in a quasi circular motion. They were known as tit-scratchers.
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