Cool Handshakes

Having "Cool Handshakes" is something kids enjoy because there is no language barrier between them. Kids from foreign countries or pen pals can have their own secret handshake to connect themselves without the difficulty of trying to verbally express themselves in other words. Creating a handshake is a seemingly simple task, but can prove to be very difficult. Everyone wants to have a long and unique handshake, but children seem to think all the good ideas are taken. However, any handshake can become “cool” if you execute it with passion.
Background
The act of shaking someone’s hand has existed since the Greeks first documented it in the 5th century BC. It is shown to be effective in history because the linking of empty hands symbolizes the lack of weapons in their hands. While handshakes have been around for a while, “cool” handshakes came into popularity in the 1980’s and 1990’s. With kids from famous TV shows such as: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Rocket Power, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and many more.
== Common "Cool" Handshakes ==
“Cool” handshakes are usually used to greet a friend or someone of similar culture. “It is fairly easy to go from being strangers to acquaintances with a handshake.” Unlike a formal handshake, it can be used to introduce yourself to someone in a casual way. This allows the handshake to be used any time two friends see fit. For example, a commonly used handshake between two friends is one normal handshake, followed by locking and wrapping your thumb around his fingers, and ending by pulling the other person toward you for a quick hug. This handshake is used mostly in the USA, Japan, and most European countries. However, this is just one of many “cool” handshakes used across the world. Another common “cool” handshake is the “Classic”: right hand to a palm-to-palm clasp, and the “Deadfish”: both right hands completely flaccid. Unlike these commonly used “cool” handshakes, others have created their own special handshakes to be used between themselves and one other. These handshakes can vary from one-second to 10 minutes long. What is interesting about these cool handshakes is that they vary in style. Some styles include using voice, snapping, and even spinning in a circle. These handshakes are commonly used between best friends and very close relatives.
In the Media
One of the reasons “cool” handshakes have become so popular is that they have been prominently featured in movies and TV shows. One of the most popular handshakes is the one shared between the characters Annie and Martin in the 1998 movie, The Parent Trap. It is long and elaborate, and goes far beyond a regular handshake becoming more of a dance. After seeing this movie, children all over the world have tried to learn it. A more recent handshake that has become popular through the media is the one shared by the characters Troy and Abed on the TV show Community. Theirs is much simpler. It involves slapping your chest twice at the same time you slap the other participants hand twice. Another classic handshake comes from the cartoon Rocket Power. This one was a hand motion and noise combination. The characters would wiggle their hands together while saying “woogity woogity woogity” or something along those lines. Two of the characters in the TV show Boy Meets World also had a very long, elaborate, dance like handshake that became very well known to those who watched the show. All of the characters that share these handshakes have a very close bond. These kind handshakes have come to represent an extremely close friendship or family relationship, and that is how they have been adopted in the real world.
In Sports
Cool handshakes are often an integral part of sports and teamwork. Handshakes are most common in basketball when each team announces their starting five players. There is usually a sixth player that awaits the five starters in the center of the court. This sixth person often has a unique and intricate handshake with each individual. In his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James revolutionized the “cool” handshake with his teammates. They incorporated unique handshakes followed by dancing, posing for fake pictures, and even pretending to be human bowling pins for LeBron. These inside handshakes symbolize chemistry and togetherness amongst a team.
In Gangs
In a different sense of the word “team”, handshakes are very prevalent among gang members. These detailed handshakes are a primary way for gang members to identify other gang members, along with the colors they wear. These handshakes involve making stars, guns, and other symbols with their hands while continuously going up and down with various finger locks in between. These handshakes may go on for up to 15 seconds depending on how intricate they are. These handshakes are usually performed using their waists, and are very easy to detect if the handshake is gang affiliated.

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