I personally didn't want him to do it just in case there was metal to metal friction but now I've see the video all sounds promising from here on.
As doylebros said, that's the compression stroke.
If the rods were bent you'd get no turning of the engine at all
If valves are bent then all you'll need are cylinder head gasket, valves, guides and seals. Maybe a timing kit and water pump would be good at this point of you've not done so already. sorry so many posts I forget who's done what to their cars
Happy to see its not the bottom end goosed