"motion" from the pitcher?

[Little Jimmy]

Dakota... This is legal in ASA et at, but illegal in NFHS, and USSSA, since both start the pitch when the windup motion begins, not just when the hands separate. This would violate the stopping and reversing direction part of the pitching rule.

Taken literally, it would seem that just about any motion used by the pitcher without immediately pitching would be illegal. Example (modified version of OP): Hands apart as she gets on plate. Pivot foot on and non pivot toe on plate with heel raised. Pause, then hands together at chest. Pause again. Then hands drop to thighs while she leans back (no step back). Then hands (still together) raise slowly above head, slight pause and then separation with movement toward plate and release.

This motion is more straightforward than the OP, and seems relatively common. But if this motion is considered windup, then she has certainly stopped and reversed. Would you call this pitch illegal under Utrip or Fed?