One of the classic PUA systems, 60 Years of Challenge, has a basic technique called "Milking the Intro." I recall when it was first discussed in seddit, nobody believed it, but I tried it and described how well it worked, and still nobody could believe it. But recently I found some more materials from this system that explained it in more detail.

First, what is Milking the Intro? Here is a lengthy sales pitch video and I linked directly to the description of the technique. You might want to go back and listen to the introductory material, since I will expand on that.

The basic concept is that when you are introduced to a woman, you shake her hand, and then don't let go until she lets go. There are a few different outcomes. She might pull back quickly, she's holding back, signalling resistance to your initial approach. She might hold on for a short while, and then pull back, a neutral, standard reaction, but she could not help but notice you were bold, unlike all the other chumps. Or she might continue to hold on for a long time, now you are building instant attraction. The woman is standing there in a common social ritual, a handshake, but you have turned it into an intimate, sexually charged moment. I recall the first time I tried it, it was astonishing how well it worked, it created instant attraction, just like it was advertised.

Now I found a few more materials from this system that explains why it works, and puts it into a larger context, using it to address one of the biggest problems guys have with pickup: kino escalation.

We have a lot of kino escalation systems like the DiCarlo Escalation Ladder. These systems describe how to use progressively more intimate touching to escalate sexual tension. But many guys are afraid to even casually touch a girl. And even worse, they figure that escalation means they have to go for a kiss, making a big move, which frightens the hell out of them. I don't blame them for being scared.

The whole point of kino escalation is that it is a series of small moves that build momentum. We sometimes talk of "compliance momentum," we test a woman with our touch, to see if she is resistant. If she resists our advances, we back off. So it is a lot easier to back off a small move than a big one. And if she resists now, that doesn't necessarily mean she will always resist you. You can build more comfort and try again later, but you have to be perceptive to what is happening.

The 60 Years of Challenge system deals with escalation a lot differently. It downplays the use of physical kino until you have already escalated the sexual vibe with teasing and talking. The first step is to establish a sexual frame. The goal is to create "covert attraction." You both feel a sexual vibe, but it is unspoken. Then once this covert attraction is created, you make it overt with kino. But you keep it very simple, with a relatively non-aggressive gesture, he calls it "hand caressing."

Most women will be resistant to a kiss as an overtly public display of affection, if you are pretty much a stranger. But people touching hands is a pretty innocent gesture, we do it all the time with handshaking. This is why the "milking the intro" method uses the handshake. Anyone who looked at you, would think you were just shaking hands, they would not suspect you were having an intimate moment. So women are much less likely to be resistant to holding hands, than if you went for a "big move" like kissing.

So there is your first kino escalation goal, not kissing, but hand caressing. In the DiCarlo Escalation Ladder, this is referred to as "Overt Class 1," it's the first step where you make an overtly intimate physical contact. This is the point where many guys choke. But it's easier than you think. You can initiate contact with simple gestures, like holding out your hand as if you are expecting her to shake hands. DiCarlo describes another common overt gesture, arm-in-arm escorting. Hold out your elbow as if you expect her to link arms. Most women will understand the elbow gesture as an invitation to take your arm. If she is ready to accept an overt physical touch, she will take your arm.

I like the hand caressing idea. Looking back at past successes even in very public situations, I remember times when I held hands, then placed my other hand together with hers, caressing her hand, and then she responded with more hand caressing. This is a much less aggressive escalation than other methods like hugging, touching her hair, or even a kiss. You don't even need to be that close to her, you are literally at arm's length which makes this escalation less aggressive.

I often tell guys to lower their expectations from any single interaction. Stop putting pressure on yourself by thinking ahead to a big goal like a kiss or getting her into bed. Start out with a very simple goal like a few minutes of pleasant small talk. But at some point, even with a very minimal goal, you've got to "lock in" and take a risk, you must make your sexual intent known. It will be a lot easier to do this with the smallest possible overt escalation, hand holding and hand caressing.

So there it is. I challenge you to try these simple techniques. It's not always easy to find a situation where you can try Milking the Intro, by shaking hands and not letting go. But try it when it's possible, and do it casually like it's perfectly normal, because it is. Watch her reaction. And then also try hand caressing in other escalation situations. Let us know how it works for you.