Two key tips on how to use chopsticks

There are countless instruction articles and videos about the basics about how to use chopsticks.  You can find them quite easily by entering (duh) "how to use chopsticks" in the search engine of your choice.  I won't repeat them here.  The basics don't change.

By and large, they are showing you proper techqnique for adults.  There is also a way that kids and "untrained" adults use chopsticks, but you best not learn that style.  I also noticed that these articles and videos are being taught by Westerners who miss two of the most common errors I've noticed with chopstick newbies:

• First, make sure the (eating) tips of your chopsticks are evenly positioned.  Why? If they aren't even, you'll be hard pressed to pickup anything with basically one side of a chopstick.

• Second, hold the chopsticks near the top end of the sticks, not the middle.  Why?  Think of a fulcrum.  If it is in the middle, you can only open it so far.  If it is at the top, you can create a wider arc.  Or think of a pair of ordinary pliers that typically has two settings -- one wider than the other.  You can then pickup almost anything (but not if the tips aren't even).

Also, try and keep your hand relaxed.  This comes with practice.  Otherwise your hand will tire out.  If you can't keep your hand relaxed, then your technique is wrong.  If you think back, you might recall that you never see an Asian person resting their hand between servings.  I did an evil thing to a friend once, where I had him hold his chopsticks so tight that his hand cramped.  It was hilarious watching those chopsticks tumble helplessly out of his hand.

Of course, in terms of practice, there was my upbringing.  When in elementary school, I was still holding my chopsticks improperly (the kid's way).  And that was totally unacceptable to my dad.  He grabbed a handful of raw Japanese rice (which are short-grained), put it on the table, and made me move each grain individually into a new pile.  I had to keep doing this until I "got it".  And that I did.  In fact, I decided to challenge my own kids one step further by using grains of salt! (just kidding)

Knowing how to use chopsticks properly is a little thing but can really impress people when you are visiting their country.  Same I found in India with knowing how to scoop food with nan, roti, or other India breads (which I still can't do) -- eating with no utensils whatsoever.  Or knowing how to use a tortilla when eating Mexican food.  Or de-shelling a shrimp as you eat it in your mouth without hands in a Chinese restaurant.

Good luck!