How to Make a Secret Handshake

The handshake is as old as any greeting and can show not only manners and sophistication but also a person's identity. Secret handshakes were used throughout history to determine friend from foe and are a great way of making your own unique mark.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Create between three and six steps to your handshake such as a swipe of the palm and different gripping gestures or positions. If you make too many steps, you'll never remember it and too few will make it easy for others to see what you are doing and copy it.

2. Include a "secret signal" such as pressure or pull on a particular finger. The masons used to press their thumb against each others knuckles to identify one another and this way you can tell whether the other person is genuine or not. If possible, hide this from view so someone watching won't be able to imitate you exactly.

3. Practice the handshake with your buddies until everyone has memorized it. Your secret handshake will be much cooler if people aren't fumbling and stopping in between.

4. Limit the number of people that know about the handshake. If you start showing everyone your new creation, it won't be "secret" any longer. Teach it only to your close friends or members of your club. Tell everyone to be selective about who they tell and keep the numbers small.

5. Introduce your handshake as part of an entry or identification ritual. Make your new handshake a pass mark to gain entry into your frat house or give it a specific meaning so that it acts as a secret code. If you don't use it on a regular basis, you'll soon forget it, so make it part of an everyday routine.