The truth is in the hands

By Dan Hilborn
Published Jan. 7, 2006


Ever since he was a child, Kenneth Lagerstrom has been fascinated by hands.

As a master of the 18 Daoist Palms style of kung fu, he's taught hundreds of young pupils the correct ways to move and hold their hands to create the greatest effect. And, as a trained hand movement analyst, Lagerstrom also teaches salespeople, company managers and executives how to use the energy in their hands to help make their businesses function more effectively.

But on the night of Dec. 16, during the first English language leaders' debate on CBC television, it was the hand movements of the four politicians that caught his attention, and what he saw just might surprise a few undecided voters.

According to Lagerstrom, the most honest of the four party leaders in the debate was Bloc Quebecois head Gilles Duceppe. Next in integrity, but probably the least controlled of the group, was Conservative leader Stephen Harper, while Liberal leader Paul Martin and the NDP's Jack Layton were the most practised of the group.

"Based on their hand movements, most of it was choreographed," Lagerstrom said.

"Out of the four party leaders, Gilles Duceppe was the most honest about what he is going after and his goals. But he doesn't have much support, and that come through in the English language debate, when he was hiding behind the podium.

"Next in integrity would be Harper," Lagerstrom said. "He was honest, but probably the least controlled. On the very first question, on homosexual rights, you could see his hands move in obvious exasperation as if he was asking 'How many times do I have to explain the same thing, over and over?' It was helpless exasperation, and he was giving into it."

Both Prime Minister Paul Martin and NDP leader Jack Layton showed well-practiced hand movements, which is not necessarily a bad thing, Lagerstrom said.

"Paul Martin's hands are living large," he said, noting the prime minister was most emphatic when talking about the protection of he charter of rights and freedoms. "But the movements are choreographed and well rehearsed. They're not natural. These are the one's he's practicing, much like an actor."

"Jack Layton has the most awareness of hand movement, but overall the worst movements because he's trying to change them too much," Lagerstrom said. "He's studied the meanings, but he has not developed the positions in himself, so the hand positions don't come naturally."

On his website, www.humanhand.com, Lagerstrom said the first leaders' debate came down to a three-way tie between Martin, Harper and Layton.

While Lagerstrom admits he's never done his analysis for politicians in the past, he does believe that body language and hand movements can offer a window into what our subconscious mind is thinking.

"As we adopt body language and posture, our mind matches that posture or gesture," he said. "For example, if a person curls up in a fetal position and hyperventilates, they will become stressed. Or if you stand tall and breathe through the lower abdomen, those are common body signs for being at ease.

"Strong posture means you have good relaxation, and a sense of awareness and focus."

And Lagerstrom should know. As a certified master of the Five Elder Monk Mew Hing 18 Daoist Palms system of kung fu, he has spent years learning to channel energy through his own hands, including some techniques which require up to two hours of meditation.

He attributes his lifelong fascination with hands to the fact that his father lost his hands while playing with fireworks as a child.

"I thought it was perfectly normal for people to not have hands, until a school teacher told me otherwise when I was about eight years old," he said.

Lagerstrom will be back in front of the television on Monday night when the four party leaders return to the podium for their second, and final, English language debate of the campaign. The debate will air at 5 p.m. PST.