bmi320,
It has become obvious from this thread that different airlines and different countries have different brace positions for their crew. No doubt, all of these brace positions have been adopted after careful review of the various studies that have been taken place over the years. And you could probably find fault somewhere with every one of them. For example, hands on lap = nothing to stop your arms flailing out and being broken against doors/cupboards etc on impact. See what I mean? No position is going to be 100% foolproof. Other brace positions aren't necessarily wrong, they are just different.