What Are Gang Handshakes?

Gang handshakes have been around for many years. These handshakes are similar to the secret handshakes that have been made up by many fraternities, organizations, and clubs throughout the United States and other areas of the world. Typically knowing the handshake for a particular gang shows your loyalty and affiliation to the gang.

Gang handshakes are used as a way to greet others in the same gang. Depending on the gang, the handshake can show a member’s rank in the gang as well. For instance, a newly initiated gang member may first be taught a simplified handshake and then learn more complex handshakes as he or she moves up in ranking within the gang.

• Gang handshakes are often complex and not easy to learn. This is another reason why newly initiated members are first taught a simple handshake and then eventually taught more complex ones as they prove their loyalty to the gang.
• Most gang handshakes involve a twist on a regular handshake and also involve throwing in gang hand signs and gestures in the midst of the handshake.
• Most gang handshakes also involve shaking the hands in different grips throughout the process and touching the fingers together in different ways.
• These gestures allow each gangs handshake to be unique to only their gang and thus another way to universally identify different gangs throughout the country.

Examples of Gang Handshakes

To better understand what gang handshakes are, here are some examples from some of the more famous gangs:

Bloods

The official handshake greeting for members of the Bloods involves a complex series of slaps, grips, finger touching, and hand signs.

• The handshake starts by slapping the palms of the left hands together of the two people involved in the handshake.
• After five slaps, the thumbs are entwined together and the hands are wrapped around one another.
• The hands are then pulled apart, and each member points with their pointer finger at the other person.
• The hands are them slid back together and gripped once again and the pointer fingers are then joined and pointed into the air.
• The two members raise their arms at this point, separate their hands slightly with their palms towards the floor, and then form the small b representative of the Bloods.
• After forming the b, the letter c is then formed and pointed towards the floor representing their disapproval of the Crips.
• They then separate hands swiftly as if to wipe out the letter c.

Crips

The Crip handshake is a bit more difficult to explain. It does not involve as many grips and hand signs as the Blood handshake and it is done more swiftly.

• Their handshake begins by sliding the left hands of both members together and then entwining the thumbs.
• At his point, both point their fingers in the air and lift their arms with their thumbs no longer entwined.
• The arms are then dropped back down while simultaneously interlocking all of the fingers together with the thumbs on top.
• Both members sort of then have a thumb war, slightly slide their hands apart, entwine their thumbs, and slide their hands back together and wrap them around one another.
• The hands are then slid apart again and the tips of the fingers are interlocked with one another before raising their arms into the air again and pointing at one another with their fingers entwined.
• The handshake is then released and either a slap against the leg is down or a c is formed with the thumb and pointer finger and held against the heart to show love and loyalty for their gang. 

So, now you know more about gang handshakes and you even have some examples.