A question to settle a bet

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

Hello,

Even moving very slowly and smoothly, so as not to strain my vulnerable lower back, I can do it in less than 15 seconds. It is about as difficult as taking off one's trousers.

Cheers,

Jack
http://www.editing.org.uk/tanis/collectibles.htm

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

It depends on how supple you are. I used to be able to do that easily. Now, my hands will not fit over my fat arse.

It's a prettyroutine stunt, actually.

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

More than anything else, it depends on the size of your booty.

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

…and it's easier with chain connected cuffs than with hinged ones, of course!

Best regards,
Guenter, who was better in doing this "trick" 7 years ago

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

I'd like to thank those that answered the question. I have to admit, now I'm curious to see if I could pull this off. Unfortuntely I don't have the equipment needed and I'd be leery of trying it for real if I did. It would be embarrasing, not to mention, hard to explain if I couldn't do it. Is there anyway to kind of "fake it" to get an idea if I could or not?

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

To get an idea of if you could do it, tie a rope around each wrist with about 12 inches between hands. Try to slip it from back to front and if you can, shorten the distance between the wrists until you get to the length of chain between a standard cuff.
Or if you have two pair of cuffs, join them together and then attach to your wrists.

good luck. How much was the bet for?

Ian

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

If you are gonna attempt a dry run with the cuffs, have an assistant.

BTW, if it's a bet, has the length of chain been defined? Peerless used to make some cuffs w/ a few extra links in the chain and now make a model w/ many more. My guess, though is that the other person was referring to the generic/standard cuff w/ short chain. Hope it's not hinged or there's an as yet undiscussed belly chain in the works!

Good luck - and report back.

I'm actually not sure about the model. He was referring to a pair used by a friend who was an amateur escape artist. He and about 6 other people tried it and they were all able to pull it off in 10-15 minutes with one, I imagine the amateur escapologist, doing it in 6-8.

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

As he recalls, it was a three link chain.

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

I can pull off something similar with my hands clasped loosely behind my back but I don't think that's a very accurate simulation, probably far too much give.

More than anything else, it depends on the size of your booty.

>More than anything else, it depends on the size of your booty.<

So you have to be really skinny to pull this off?

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

Skinny, no. Trim, yes. And it helps to wear slippery clothes - nylon, etc. But, no long sleeves. Just do it.

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

Dear Monica,

What have long sleeves to do with it?

I wore what I always wear, Levi jeans and a long sleeve cotton shirt (which in the winter becomes a long sleeve sweatshirt or other long sleeve pullover). No problem.

Your advice about having someone else there is important. I did not, so what I did instead was to backload the Hiatts 2010 handcuffs I used, to prevent them from locking shut, put them on as otherwise would be normal, then grasp the chain between the index and middle fingers of each hand. I also did this without handcuffs, by clasping both hands together, fingers interlocked and the bottoms of both palms touching. Again, no problem.

One need not lie down to do this, either, drawing your knees and feet towards your torso until you can bring your hands below your feet. One can do this in a standing, or at least vertical position, by bending the knees and lowering the arms -- as if one is going to do a "duck walk" -- then just step backwards, one foot at a time, through the arms. I imagine it does help to be thin, which I am.

I wonder what the "bet" is, and whether this thread has settled it...

Cheers,

Jack
http://www.editing.org.uk/tanis/collectibles.htm

The point of contention was could a normal(read physically average person without any training or an unsusal body type) get their hands from behind their back to the front of their bodies and, if so, how difficult would and how long would it take them to it. It came up (of course) while watching a movie.

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

7 seconds.

52 years old. Male. 5'11" 160#. Peerless 300. First time I've tried in 10+ years and (a) kept my sneakers on and (b) standing up.

The trick: don't try to put both your feet through at the same time.

Peerless 300?

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

Jack, long sleeves - especially a rough cotton/henley-type - will be a source of friction and resistance and reduce whatever tolerance there is. Also, the sleeves can bunch up, making it even a tighter squeeze. Throw in a pair of jeans and the possibilities are worse. It's like dryness when you need viscosity. (+; Now, for the terminally skinny, this might not present much of a problem, but for most people, I'd venture to say that it would. Everything matters.

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

I was confident I could do it, but the reason I did it is this is as close as I ever will get to the tricks, contortions and other escape-related acts others manage to do. Of course, the real challenge is not doing this by bringing your hands under your feet, but is doing this by bringing your hands over your head.

Ouch.

Cheers,

Jack
http://www.editing.org.uk/tanis/collectibles.htm

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

"Over, Under, Sideways, Down"....Its Magic!

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

In my Prime I could do it in 7 seconds,now 45 seconds!

In 1972 while I was working on a TV variety show, I
saw something that I have never seen before or since!

A lady contortionist saw me practice this move,and asked
if she could try it.
I handcuffed her hands behind her,she then brought her
hands in front of her by putting her hands OVER HER HEAD!!

I have never seen this done by anyone ever again!!

It was AMAZING!!

Steve

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

Steve, I saw what you described on a youtube vid - and the guy did it over and over. The vid looked for real, too.

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

I have seen two people whom could bring their handcuffed arms from behind their back over their head to place their hands in front.

Not too many people can do this.

Howy

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

3 seconds with irish 8

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

As has previously been discussed. It is not a problem in stepping through handcuffs to bring them in front of you. Even at 50+++ I can do this easily with standard chain connected handcuffs (most importatant thing is to bring one leg through at a time).
35 years ago I could do the same thing over my head. The first I new about this was reading the Steranko Edition in Genii October 1964. This is a must for any budding escapologists to read.
I remember it taking weeks of practice and initially needed an assistant to force my elbows together and help me bring them over my head - eventually I managed to do it without assistance. Attached hopefully is a copy of page 91 showing Steranko performing this.
If the image does not work hopefully Joe will be able to attach it.
Chris
PS Will need to rely on Joe I am not registered with the imaging service yet!

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

Chris

Here is your picture.



The Steranko special issue is perhaps the greatest single publication on escapology ever written. If you don't have a copy you should try to find one. It is great resource for performers and collectors.

Joe

Is it possible for an essentially normal, regular person to do the trick where you bring your cuffed hands from behind your back to the front of your body and if so, how difficult would it be and how long would it take?

Hi Steve: re: the contortionist that you saw take her handcuffed hands from behind her back to the front going up over the head. this is a difficult thing and is the move that is key (no pun) for my escape from a device called the mitts from a maniac.
It is interesting to hear the audience when they see this happen
best to you
michael