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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Welcome to an incomplete book about Lindy Hop.
I wrote the text here five years ago, based on my notes from when I was originally learning Lindy Hop in the mid-1990s. My original plan was to take a large number of illustrative photographs, which would make the bare text much more comprehensible.
However, that was five years ago and I've not gotten as far as taking a single photograph. So rather than waiting any longer, I thought it worth releasing the text as-is, in case it's useful to anyone else.
I'd interested to hear any feedback, but unfortunately I can't promise to do much about it.
And maybe one day I'll get as far as illustrating the book, and creating the originally-intended printed version:
This book is dedicated to the memory of Frankie Manning (1914-2009), Ambassador of Lindy Hop.
David Drysdale
November 2012