my hands

my hands

January 26th, 2007 |

Author: derrick

My hands are small I know
But they’re not yours, they are my own
But they’re not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
-jewel

My hands are about 8 inches long wrist to finger tip and a bit over 3 1/2 inches wide. My index finger is just under 4 inches. There’s nothing particularly wrong with my hands. I have a scare on one thumb from where it deflected and errant knife, but other than that they seem like fine hands. Their flexible and strong. They’re certainly not a workman’s hands. Sure I’ve pounded my share of fence posts but the scars and slivers soon went. I suppose I’m lucky that the skin is still smooth and pliable. The tips of my fingers are still a bit callous from years of playing guitar but I’d never notice other than I can do a fun party trick with a lighter. My nail beds are a bit deep from years of chewing away when back when my nerves were a bit frayed, a habit I return to now and again. But then our hands in many ways are our physical connection with the outside world. Touch after all, is the foundation of sensuality and connection. It’s good to have hands. Great to have hands. Flippin’ fantastic to have them in fact.

When my kayak is upside down and I want to be right-side up again, I can put my hands out into the water beside me and just like rolling over in bed I’m back up. One hand is usually enough. Sometimes I have to bring my other hand over and assist. Especially with a big fat boat. Thing is, if I curl up my fingers, taking away about 3 1/2 inches of surface, I suddenly don’t come back up. I uncurl them again and return to the air. 3 1/2 inches. That’s the difference between a hand roll and an egg roll. Just a few inches. Well, you know some say a few inches can make all the difference. I’m not sure that’s quite accurate, but that’s another blog entirely. One that I’m sure I won’t start here.

In reality I know that “hand” rolling has very little to do with my hands. They are really just crutches making up for a weakness in my body motions. That’s the way it is with rolling. An extended paddle makes up for bad form. A standard roll asks that you have a bit better form. A hand roll comes when you begin to have more precise control of your body. Close your hand into a fist and you’re required to sharpen up just a very slight bit more. Yet, that tiny bit makes all the difference. Then there’s elbow rolls and straight jacket rolls. . a form of magic if you ask me. . .

I like my hands. I’m happy to have them. In fact I’d not be writing this without them. Thing is, I’d like to learn to do without them on occasion. At least 3 1/2 inches to start with. Oh well, back to the pool.

We’ll get there.

Posted in , Learn To Roll, Learning, My Weird Life, Paddling, Random Thoughts

4 Responses to “my hands”

Silbs says:

January 26, 2007 at 11:14 am

This is me giving you a big hand.

Alex says:

January 26, 2007 at 3:02 pm

Not too long ago, you used to think that handrolls were magic. Like you said, it’s all about getting your form more and more precise. I figure, in the right boat, that you’ll be elbow rolling before too long.

It’s crazy though how subtle changes can make such a difference. It took a year from my first elbow roll to be able to do it slowly and consistantly and another year after that to get the straitjacket roll. Now my body just has to learn that sort of precision for the forward stuff instead of always powering up.

Julian says:

January 26, 2007 at 3:07 pm

Someday with practice these hands will be of some use in a boat.

Anonymous says:

January 26, 2007 at 11:26 pm

raise your hand if you can dig it

Thomas