“Man who catch fly with chopstick, accomplish anything.” –Mr. Miyagi, The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid taught kids of the 80s a lot about bravery, integrity, and — of course — rad chopstick moves. The scenes where Mr. Miyagi and Daniel-san try to catch houseflies between their chopstick tips are among the most exciting moments in utensil movie history. To get to that level of chopstick zen mastery, you’ll need a lot of practice on easier targets, like sweet and sour chicken. But, with time, you may just find yourself tossing out your fly swatter. Be patient; remember, it even took Mr. Miyagi himself until Karate Kid II to finally accomplish this feat.
Of course your chopstick skills won’t only allow you to get rid of household pests, but to deftly eat Asian cuisine at restaurants and when traveling without resorting to asking for a fork.
1: Rest one chopstick in the nook between the thumb and index finger of your dominant hand.
2: Bend your ring and pinky finger underneath the chopstick to add support.
3: Grip the second chopstick between your thumb, index, and middle finger, like you would grip a pen.
4: Slide your middle finger down so that it supports the bottom of the upper chopstick.
5: Use your index finger to pivot the upper chopstick up and down so that it meets the tip of the lower chopstick.
6: Practice with easy foods like marshmallows and grapes, before working your way up to the harder stuff.
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