THE PROTOCOL OF THE GENTLEMENS HANDSHAKE:

High among the treasury of antique but not necessarily antiquated mens traditions is the gentlemans handshake.  In courteous company a gentleman extends his hand in a purely formal  and nonverbal gesture to be succinctly aknowledged by another gentleman who extends his hand in kind; the act of mutual respect and aknowledgement is quick and a man should never hold another mans hand any longer than a couple of seconds or seize it in a vice-grip as this is highly impolite.  Many gentlemen have altogether replaced the handshake with the gesture of pressing  the flat sides of their clenched fists, this toot must be done gently so as not to intimidate the other party or cause them discomfort with an overly aggressive manner. 

Remember, the purpose of the handshake, no matter what form it takes, is to act as a friendly greeting.  The gesture of opening ones hand to another is one of humility, friendship and graciousness it is not a wrestling match or a darwinian and macchiavellian power struggle.  Take it easy, unless you are well aquainted with the gentlleman and have an established tradition of aggressive handshaking. 

The handshake is typically used when two gentlemen do not have time for a protracted verbalized greeting be it introductory or a departure.  It is used to quicky aknowledge other men in large noisy crowds. In todys rapidly moving world a gentleman should never assundsme anyone has more than a cople of seconds to say or gesture the aknowledgement of hello and goodbye.  Detaining another man by refusing to release his hand during an extended greeting without allowing him the opportunity to move on shows disrespect of the gentlemans time.  Although you may have time to chat when another gentleman has business pressing it does not mean he is not happy to see you or disinterested in your well being, it simply means he is in a hurry. 

In a time when people are concerned with manual transmission of germs the handshake has been replaced by other less tactile forms of mutual aknowledgement and greeting.  The handshake can be a very quick and formal motion or a complicated assortment of manual manuvers similar to fraternal handshakes and handshakes popularized during the jazz era and 70s involving complicated synchronized hand and body motions and verbalizations, expressions, etc.  Be careful about adopting rude customs such as squeezing a mans hand too tight as a show of machismo, this is a common street trend but has no place in a true gentlemans repertoire unless he is reacting to a milieau into which he has been thrust where such vulgarities are mistakenly believed to be copasetic.  When another gentleman who you are not aqinted with or know only superficially politely extends his hand in greeting grip his hand pleasantly and briefly.  Save firm, lengthy and aggressive grips for close friends and pals. 

The ultimate form of disrespect is when a gentleman refuses to extend and open his hand in the friendly and humble gestrure of a gracious handshake.  Due to cultural differences, some men may not be familiar with the vrarious, diverse forms and so if they do not reciprocate do not take offense the first time but do mind this oversight if a second time should happen upon you.