The Texas Tommy (also known as an Armbreaker, Apache or Behind the Back) is based around a Lindy Turn, but with the
follower performing a full turn clockwise as she exits the move. This is triggered by the leader transferring her
hand from his left hand to his right hand behind her back—the follower has to turn to "unwind" her arm.
This hand transfer often feels awkward when first encountered. One common cause is that the leader is too
high; particularly if the leader is taller than the follower, he should bend his knees and lower his body so
that the follower's hand stays as low as possible. Also, the follower needs to let her arm go
sufficiently loose that the leader can easily do the transfer.
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reverse view |
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1. M:BL W:TweFR Start from an open position, with the leader's left hand holding the follower's right hand. The leader takes a step backward on his left foot, momentarily rocking his weight back onto that foot. The follower steps slightly forward on her right foot with a twist step.
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(image: hand grip) |
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2. M:RR W:TwFL The leader replaces his weight on his right foot, rocking back forwards. The leader begins to draw his left hand toward himself to lead the follower to step towards him. The follower steps forward on her left foot with a twist step.
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(image: twist step closeup) |
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3. M:FL2R W:FR2R The leader steps forward on his left foot. The leader continues the movement of his left hand towards himself by moving it to his left, so that his left hand has moved through a J shape. The follower steps forward on her right foot and lifts her left hand to place it on the leader's right shoulder.
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(image: J-shape lead) |
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&. M:TR1R W:TL1R The leader closes his right foot to his left foot, continuing to turn slightly to his right. The follower closes her left foot to her right foot, continuing to turn slightly to her right.
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4. M:FL1R W:FR1R The leader steps forward on his left foot, turning another slightly right, stepping closer in to the follower than for a Lindy Turn. The leader reaches around with his left hand behind the follower's back to transfer her right hand to his right hand at waist height. The follower steps forward on her right foot, turning another slightly right, loosening the tension in her right arm to allow the leader to put it across behind her back.
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(image: hand position closeup) |
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5. M:HR2R W:eFL4R The leader steps with his right foot back and behind his other foot, continuing to turn another 90° right in order to get out of the way of the follower's step, while pulling the follower's right hand with his right hand to lead the turn. The follower steps slightly forward on her left foot, continuing to turn another 180° right.
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(image: closeup on leading hand) |
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6. M:TL2R W:BR4R The leader closes his left foot to his right foot, continuing to turn another 90° to his right, continuing to lead the turn with his right hand. The leader stays close to the follower so that the lead is not uncomfortable. The follower takes a step backward on her right foot, continuing to turn another 180° to her right.
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7. M:eBR W:TL4R The leader takes a step slightly backward on his right foot. The follower closes her left foot to her right foot, continuing to turn another 180° to her right, completing the turn to end up facing the leader again.
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&. M:TL W:TR The leader closes his left foot to his right foot. The follower closes her right foot to her left foot.
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8. M:RR W:RL The leader replaces his weight on his right foot. The follower replaces her weight on her left foot.
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