Handshake Like A Dad: The Art Of The Shake

May 29, 2017

The Handshake. A staple of Western Culture, it is believed the gesture may have started as a simple way to show that a person bears no weapons and is coming in peace. Which is odd, considering that today, the act be can quite elaborate or very aggressive.

Since it’s such a complicated maneuver, it’s no surprise the gesture is one of many life lessons fathers (should) teach their children. However, what exactly should dads be teaching and why is it still so complex a topic?

A Lost Art?

For fathers and sons, the art of shaking hands has always been as fundamental to becoming a man as learning to shave and getting “the talk.” However, due to websites and sex ed classes, the “Birds and the Bees” speech is becoming an obsolete part of parenting. As the handshake has evolved and spawned other similar acts like the high-five, clap and fist bump, the proper use of the OG gesture, as a result, may be next to get lost in the shuffle.

It Begins With The Grip

The biggest factor when it comes to proper handshaking is the grip. Common knowledge states that a loose grip equals an insecure or untrustworthy person. So, how strong a grip should one use? Well, that’s a topic of debate. Some would say the stronger the grip, the better the man. “Make ‘em feel it!”

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Others say that you should just match the strength of the other person. However, if both people are being reactionary, who’s taking the lead? It does seem fair to say there’s such a thing as too assertive. For example, President Trump is developing a reputation as being a sort of hand rapist.

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Warning: Aggressive Handshakes Can Backfire

Although, Trump did recently taste his own medicine with French President Emmanuel Macron, as the two practiced the old, time honored tradition of turning the handshake into a pissing contest. Spoiler alert: Macron won.

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It’s amazing that a simple act of peace can easily turn into an act of aggression.

New Forms Of The Old Classic

While appendage shaking should be a science we have down by now (but clearly don’t) it’s easy to think that humanity is failing the practice. On the other hand, there are great examples that show how humans have actually just perfected it after all. Just look at East Tennessee State University Baseball player, Aaron Maher and head coach Tony Skole’s son. That’s next level handshake-like activity right there.

In the end, the lesson of welcoming each other with warmth and respect is something we should all know. How to properly convey civility and the best of intentions when it comes to any relationship is definitely a skill to be learned by the strongest of relationships, parent to child. After all, creating a bond is a promise…a promise we can all shake on.