OK, OK. There aren’t exactly ten thousands different ways to hold chopsticks. But there are more than the one presumed, “correct” way to use chopsticks, and the one presumed, “incorrect/crossed” way to use chopsticks.

This article provides a visual guide to different chopstick grips that we have observed and recorded in real eating situations, such as the Standard Grip, the Idling Thumb grip, the Vulcan Grip, and the Chicken Claws grip. These are all fine ways of using chopsticks. In the spirit of #utensilequality, all grips are equal at the table. But these chopstick holding styles are also all different. We have captured this view in our retrospective, The Art and Science of Chopsticking.