On this page you will find FAQs, as well as articles on the physics of chopsticks, on alternative grips, and on other marcostick-related topics. For website announcements, go to the blog.
Training marcosticks
Model B: Chopstick Buddies
Chopstick Buddies are attachments to a chopstick. They fix a severe thumb pose issue, allowing beginners and lifelong users to learn the Standard Grip for the first time.
Best Learning Chopsticks
We surveyed the best learning chopsticks you can buy online, or print for free on your 3D-printer. We classified them into 6 types.
Model E: Ergonomic Marcosticks
Low-profile ergonomic nuggets on plain chopsticks provide subtle tactile feedback to guide intermediate learners.
Model H: Finger Helpers
Finger helper bars mounted on Training Marcosticks model T to allow a bent thumb to secure the bottom chopstick.
Model A: Advanced Marcosticks
Advance users need no training aids. Just use what Marco presented to Kublai Khan. Aye, they are plain chopsticks.
Model T: Training Marcosticks
Beginner training marcosticks with articulated top chopstick that rotates and extends, following the Standard Grip motion.
Training Marcosticks That Work
People have been making learner chopsticks for 2,000 years. But none taught the Standard Grip, until now. See training marcosticks that work.
Physics of Chopsticks
Why won't tips of chopsticks pinch together with Standard Grip?
This is a first article in a new series called "Why Can't I Chopstick". Beginner chopstick practitioners often run into a common problem: they are unable to bring chopstick tips to meet - they swing past each other.
Classification of Chopstick Grips
We classify chopstick grips by finger placement and finger movement, for each combination of top/bottom chopsticks and open/closed postures.
The Art and Science of Chopsticking
A retrospective on two years of research that attempts to explain the art of wielding two sticks with power, dexterity and finesse.
Caswellian thumb and chopsticks
To use chopsticks with the Standard Grip, a flattened, unnatural thumb pose known as Caswellian thumb is needed.
Using vs not using the Thumb
Of myriad ways people hold chopsticks, roughly half of grips engage the tip of the thumb, while the rest do not.
Planetary gears: physics of chopsticks
Did you know that chopsticks have more in common with planetary gears than Archimedean levers? Discover the real physics of chopsticks.
Hold Chopsticks like a Pen
Countless chopstick wrappers advice learners to "hold chopsticks like a pen". Here we explore the correlation between pen grips and chopstick grips.
Out with the Crossed Type, in with the Under Swing
We dispel the false dichotomy of "crossed" vs "parallel" - an outdated way to classify chopstick grips. We propose Under Swing and Sideway Swing instead.
History of Chopstick Research
What did people know about the physics of chopsticks, before planetary gear train was revealed as the key driver, instead of the third-class lever?
Family Tree of Alternative Grips
Here you'll find the most comprehensive family tree of different ways to hold chopsticks, classified by their relatedness to the Standard Grip.
Learn to Use Chopsticks
People used chopsticks for thousands of years. But no one had taught the twirling of chopsticks by principles of the planetary gear train, until now.
The Standard Grip
Of all alternative ways to grip a pair of chopsticks, only the standard grip works well. Here we reveal the truth about it that the world has not known before.
Alternative grips
The Double Hook Grip
Double Hook is a chopstick grip halfway between Idling Thumb (for extension) and Chicken Claws (for compression).
The Hook n Clamp Grip
The Hook n Clamp chopstick grip uses the index finger to pry chopsticks open, and the middle finger to clamp chopsticks shut.
The Double Tripod Grip
Double Tripod is a variant of Standard Grip where the bottom chopstick too is supported by a tripod of three fingers.
The Lateral Chick Grip
Lateral Chick is the bridge connecting all Lateral grips to Chicken Claws, and thus the rest of the family tree of chopstick grips.
The Lateral Thumb Wrestler Grip
Lateral Thumb Wrestler is an underswing variant of Lateral chopstick grips, where the thumb operates the top chopstick as if thumb-wrestling.
The Lateral Money Grip
Lateral Money is a sideway-swing variant of Lateral chopstick grips, with a money-gesture-like index and thumb movement.
The Lateral Gangnam Style Grip
Lateral Gangnam Style is a variant take on Lateral Turncoat, where thumb and index finger dance a la horse-ride move, from Gangnam Style.
The Lateral Squid Grip
Lateral Squid is a Lateral Classic variant where five fingers pulse like a squid, when extending chopstick apart.
The Lateral Turncoat Grip
Lateral Turncoat is a special variant of Lateral Classic, where the thumb tip engages in chopsticking, unlike the rest of the Lateral family.
Lateral Classic grips
Lateral Classic are chopstick grips with a "classic" swing in the Lateral family, featuring Lateral Chick, Lateral Squid, and Lateral Gangnam Style.
Lateral chopstick grips
Lateral grips form the largest family in all chopstick grips. All variants share a common compression posture named after its namesake penhold.
The Italian Grip
Italian Grip is a cross between Cupped Vulcan and Scissorhand, named after the Italian hand gesture for "what is it that you want ?!"
The Cupped Vulcan Grip
Cupped Vulcan is an under-swing chopstick grip that resembles a cupped hand. It expands Vulcan and Scissorhand into an intricate machinery.
The Equal Opportunity Grip
Equal Opportunity grip allocates two fingers for each chopstick, with the thumb spending equal attention on both chopstick.
The Middle Path Grip
Middle Path grip is related to Beetle Mandibles, except that chopsticks are placed around the middle finger, instead of the index finger
Ten thousand ways to use chopsticks
How many different ways do people use chopsticks to pick up food? Here's your pictorial map to ten thousand grips.
The Turncoat Grip
Turncoat Grip is the diametric opposite of Forsaken Pinky. It appears to hold chopsticks just like the Flexible Middle variant of Finger Pistol grip.
The Finger Pistol Grip
Finger Pistol is an alternative chopstick grip named after the hand gesture "finger pistol". It has two common variants: Shadow Rabbit and Flexed Middle.
The Count-to-kehkuh Grip
Count-to-kehkuh is a cross between the Count-to-4 grip (a curled thumb) and the Vulcan Grip (bottom chopstick supported by pulp of the ring finger).
The Count-to-4 Grip
The Count-to-4 grip is a variation of Standard Grip, where the tip segment of the thumb bends inward, instead of extending flat to secure both chopsticks.
The Righthand Rule Grip
The Righthand Rule grip is named after the right-hand rule used in mathematics and physics, for its semblance to the the axes of the rule.
The Forsaken Pinky Grip
The Forsaken Pinky grip is named after the lone pinky finger, which is left to its own devices by the rest of fingers, to man the bottom chopstick alone.
The Beetle Mandibles Grip
Beetle Mandibles is an alternative chopstick grip where chopstick movements resemble a Giant Stag Beetle maneuvering its long mandibles.
The Scissorhand Grip
Scissorhand Grip inherits from its parent Chicken Claws the blatant disregard of the thumb, and further deviates by crossing top chopstick below the other.
The Muppet Grip
The Muppet Grip is a variant of Dangling Stick, and thus inherits the same issues including lack of leverage, plus rear-end collisions.
The Dangling Stick Grip
Dangling Stick inherits from its parent Chicken Claws the blatant disregard of the thumb, and further deviates by leaving the bottom chopstick dangling.
The Dino Claws Grip
Dino Claws derives from Chicken Claws, further deviating from Standard Grip by relieving index finger of its duty, leaving only 2 fingers operating chopsticks.
Weak Standard Grip
A Weak Standard Grip looks exactly like Standard Grip under light load, but becomes inefficient under heavier load, due to neglected key principles.
The Chicken Claws Grip
The Chicken Claws Grip is an exaggerated variant of the Idling Thumb grip, with wider chopstick reach and power, plus a menacing look.
The Vulcan Grip
The Vulcan Grip is a closely-related variant of the standard chopstick grip - pulp of index/middle fingers are used instead of distal knuckles.
The Idling Thumb Grip
The Idling Thumb Grip is a closely-related variant of the standard chopstick grip - the thumb loiters around doing nothing useful to help the top chopstick.
The Standard Grip
Of all alternative ways to grip a pair of chopsticks, only the standard grip works well. Here we reveal the truth about it that the world has not known before.
Frequently-asked Questions
How to help
If you find our cause to your liking, you can make it yours, too. Here are some ways for you to help further our common cause.
Is Marcosticks a registered trademark?
As of the date of this writing, the trademark "Marcosticks" has been filed with the USPTO, but is not yet a "registered" trademark.
Knowledge Articles
Design Patent on Ergonomic Nugget for Chopsticks - USD934037S
A web-version of our Ergonomic Nugget for Chopsticks design patent granted by USPTO as US D934,037 S, now with inline illustrations.
Design Patent on Training Chopsticks - USD933430S
A web-version of our Training Chopsticks design patent granted by USPTO as US D933,430 S, now with inline illustrations.
Chopstick Buddies - US2021282579A1
A web-version of our Chopstick Buddies patent application published by USPTO as US-2021-0282579-A1, now with inline illustrations.
Training Chopsticks - US20210196065A1
A web-version of our Training Chopsticks patent application published by USPTO as US 2021-0196065 A1, now with inline illustrations.
Ergonomic chopsticks - US20210059445A1
A web-version of our Ergonomic Chopsticks patent application published by USPTO as US 2021-0059445 A1, now with inline illustrations.
#UtensilEquality
All utensils are equal, and the right tool should be offered for the right food. If your waiter brings out Penne alla Vodka with chopsticks, then you know utensil equality holds.
What are Marcosticks?
Legend has it that Marco Polo introduced pasta from China to Italy, and Marcosticks to Kublai Khan. But he did not live to see his vision reshape the Western culinary practices.