# Uncomfortable with fisting technique **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2007, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213 "2007-08-28T13:41:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/1 "2007-08-28T13:41:03Z")
As someone who came of age in the “high five” generation, would someone please explain the proper technique and dynamics of the fist bump to me? _(Surely you didn’t expect this thread to be about anything else!)_😉 The high five and its myriad variations seems to me both widely applicable, comfortable, and natural. Most often, it is done casually - one guy simply shows his palm, and the other touches it, generally around waist level. As a celebration or congratulation it can be done more demonstrably. But I’ve never gotten as comfortable with the fist bump. To my eyes, there is something awkward about one guy making a fist and extending it towards the other - especially if the guys are at a distance that requires that they walk towards each other with fists extended. And I assume it is appropriate to bump knuckles horizontally instead of the presumably passe up and down bump? Back in the day, you might say, “Gimme five” or “Slip me some skin.” Is there any comparable invitation to “Bump my fist”? The other day I was walking into a building and as I passed a security guard I know I held up a hand in greeting - just gesturing “Hi.” He responded by smiling and holding his hand up at about head-level in a fist with the knuckles towards me. Was this an invitation to bump fists, or just some kind of greeting/salutation? Oh for the simple days of soul handshakes! I’m sure Huggy Bear could set me straight in short order. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/2 "2007-08-28T13:51:19Z")
My students do this to me all the time. Let them make the first gesture, reply in kind, and let them initiate contact. If they have anything more in mind than a simple bump, they’ll show you. And yes, you dissed the security guard when you failed to reply to his fist. Watch your back! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/3 "2007-08-28T13:54:37Z")
[QUOTE=Dinsdale] …(1) And I assume it is appropriate to bump knuckles horizontally instead of the presumably passe up and down bump? Back in the day, you might say, “Gimme five” or “Slip me some skin.” (2) Is there any comparable invitation to “Bump my fist”? …(3) Was this an invitation to bump fists, or just some kind of greeting/salutation? … [/QUOTE] 1. Certainly. That’s how my buddies and I do it. 2. No, I just think extending your fist that way suffices. 3. The former, I’d guess. And may I say, referring to “fisting techniques” in the thread title might be, um, misconstrued. Of course, it _would_ bring some people into this thread who otherwise wouldn’t look. I’m sure that was your intention. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/4 "2007-08-28T13:55:47Z")
Ah, dap. The phrase you’re looking for is “give me some pound”. I’ll dig up a link to Urban Dictionary for you in a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/5 "2007-08-28T13:56:28Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] My students do this to me all the time. Let them make the first gesture, reply in kind, and let them initiate contact. If they have anything more in mind than a simple bump, they’ll show you. [/QUOTE] But what does an old fogey do when he wants to offer a sign of greeting/acknowledgment/etc to someone else - either to a younger person of fistbump age, or to another codger in a futile attempt to appear hip and “with it.” How do I initiate the fist bump without looking as clueless as I apparently am? Are there rules for when a fist bump is or is not appropriate? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/6 "2007-08-28T13:59:38Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] And may I say, referring to “fisting techniques” in the thread title might be, um, misconstrued. Of course, it _would_ bring some people into this thread who otherwise wouldn’t look. I’m sure that was your intention. 😉 [/QUOTE] Me too. By the way, did you know that ‘feminist’ is an anagram of ‘I fist men’? ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/7 "2007-08-28T14:08:59Z")
Uncomfortable with your fisting technique? You need more lube. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/8 "2007-08-28T14:20:47Z")
[QUOTE=Dinsdale] Back in the day, you might say, “Gimme five” or “Slip me some skin.” Is there any comparable invitation to “Bump my fist”? [/QUOTE] The term you’re looking for is “knucks” (nux). You just have to say knucks and the other person should put their fist up. Way more streamlined than those silly 4 and 5 syllable phrases. ---
**Author:** ![St\_Ides](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@St\_Ides](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St_Ides)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/9 "2007-08-28T14:56:17Z")
We’ve always used the term “props” for this gesture. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/10 "2007-08-28T15:06:06Z")
No verbal cue, just offer your fist. It’s not so widely used that you won’t be left hanging occasionally. That’s when you break out the finger guns. ---
**Author:** ![CateAyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@CateAyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CateAyo)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/11 "2007-08-28T15:15:19Z")
Just do it the old way and tell them you’re Ol’ Skool. Need a refresher? [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObWEMuJVLGc) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/12 "2007-08-28T15:49:22Z")
I was not misled by the thread title. Oh hell no, not me. But the other day I passed a cute female security guard. She said hi then dropped her pants. Did she want to “Bump my fist”? [QUOTE=Giraffe] That’s when you break out the finger guns. [/QUOTE] Maybe she wanted me to finger-bang her. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/13 "2007-08-28T15:51:50Z")
[QUOTE=brewha] The term you’re looking for is “knucks” (nux). You just have to say knucks and the other person should put their fist up. Way more streamlined than those silly 4 and 5 syllable phrases. [/QUOTE] > [@St\_Ides](#): > > We’ve always used the term “props” for this gesture. I ususally hear “pound it”. > [@Giraffe](#): > > No verbal cue, just offer your fist. It’s not so widely used that you won’t be left hanging occasionally. That’s when you break out the finger guns. There is no excuse, ever, for finger guns. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/14 "2007-08-28T16:07:59Z")
[QUOTE=DianaG] I ususally hear “pound it”. [/QUOTE] I’ll _bet_ you do, you little minx. > [@](#): > > There is no excuse, ever, for finger guns. 😛 The trick is to not look cheesy while doing it. I like to combine it with a sweet moonwalk when making my exit. Simple, yet classy. ---
**Author:** ![Kricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/15 "2007-08-28T16:10:46Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] Ah, dap. The phrase you’re looking for is “give me some pound”. I’ll dig up a link to Urban Dictionary for you in a bit. [/QUOTE] That is more of each taking a closed fist and pounding the bottom of your fist over the top of the other persons fist. An up and down motion like slaping the skin on someone. Dap. Yeah, my brother in law will hold up is fist and say “pound it”. Might vary from area to area though. My brother says “gimme a knuckle on that one sis” and that means he wants me to give him a knuckle tap like discribed in the OP. More of a front to back motion with your fist. Like two punches connecting hand to hand but not with real force behind it. ---
**Author:** ![Solfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Solfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Solfy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/16 "2007-08-28T16:31:42Z")
Quite possibly the funniest/cutest thing I’ve seen in a long time was this past weekend when my visiting college roommate taught my 20mo old to “give her some dap.” Said baby was a little confused at first but caught on admirably. My baby is cooler than I am. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/17 "2007-08-28T16:35:22Z")
[QUOTE=Giraffe] I’ll _bet_ you do, you little minx. [/quote] Aw, it’s like you know me. > [@Giraffe](#): > > The trick is to not look cheesy while doing it. I like to combine it with a sweet moonwalk when making my exit. Simple, yet classy. [This](http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h234/wisdomy/tc062006_01.jpg) guy totally agrees. **Solfy** , that’s adorable. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/18 "2007-08-28T17:07:13Z")
[QUOTE=Dinsdale] Back in the day, you might say, “Gimme five” or “Slip me some skin.” Is there any comparable invitation to “Bump my fist”? [/QUOTE] “Pound it.” ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/19 "2007-08-28T17:23:14Z")
Going off the the thread title I totally thought this was going to be about something else. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213/20 "2007-08-28T17:27:56Z")
[QUOTE=DianaG] [This](http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h234/wisdomy/tc062006_01.jpg) guy totally agrees. [/QUOTE] So does [this](http://uberkuul.files.wordpress.com/2006/06/buddy%20christ%20from%20dogma.jpg) guy. You wouldn’t want to go against God Almighty, now, would you? (I wonder how many Dopers don’t even have to click the link to know what I’m talking about.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncomfortable-with-fisting-technique/417213.md?page=2)