The Double Hook Grip - Marcosticks

Last Updated on August 25, 2021 by Staff

Double Hook is a chopstick grip halfway between Idling Thumb (for extension) and Chicken Claws (for compression).

Marcosticks - Tzuyu - Double Hook - Representative image - TWICE YesNoEp3-Trim 04-28 c-Tzuyu - chopstick grip — Tzuyu – Double Hook – with ring finger knuckle support

Table of Contents

The name

In May 2021, we noted that Jane from the YouTube episode on chopsticking from WorldFriends used a variant in between Idling Thumb and Chicken Claws. We couldn’t quite pin down, at that time, Jane’s grip in the family tree of chopstick grips. We also did not know how to name it.

Jane extends chopsticks apart with Idling Thumb, but closes them against food items with Lateral compression. This hybrid approach is also seen in the Lateral Turncoat grip, where Turncoat extension is used in combination with Lateral compression. It is also similar to how Chicken Claws adopts a Lateral compression, and an Idling Thumb-like extension. Following images show the Closed posture (left) and the Open posture (right) from one part of the video.

Pop culture - WorldFriends2021May - Jane - Alternating motion1a - Compression posture - Lateral-like — Jane’s compression posture

Pop culture - WorldFriends2021May - Jane - Alternating motion1a - Open posture - Idling Thumb-like — Jane’s open posture

In August 2021, we analyzed chopstick grips of all 9 members of TWICE. Once we analyzed Chaeyoung’s grips, we then had a name for both of these. We named Chaeyoung’s grip, the Hook n Clamp grip, because her index finger acts like a hook, and her middle finger works like a clamp. For Jane, both her index finger and her middle finger are used like a hook. So we named Jane’s grip the Double Hook grip.

Following pictures compare and contrast Chaeyoung’s Hook n Clamp, on the left, to Jane’s Double Hook, on the right. They illustrate how these two practitioners lift up the top chopstick.

Marcosticks - Chaeyoung - Hook n Clamp - Open posture - compared to Double Hook - TWICE YesNoEp2 - sect2 00-16 b - WorldFriends2021May - Jane - Alternating motion1a - Open — Hook n Clamp (left) compared to Double Hook (right) – open posture

Following pictures show both of them clutching chopsticks shut.

Marcosticks - Chaeyoung - Hook n Clamp - Compressed posture - compared to Double Hook - TWICE YesNoEp3 - Trim 02-15 a - WorldFriends2021May - Jane - Alternating motion1a - Compression — Hook n Clamp (left) compared to Double Hook (right) – compressed posture

Compared to Chicken Claws and Idling Thumb

Following pictures compare the extension mechanism of Chicken Claws (on the left) to Double Hook (center), and to Idling Thumb (on the right). The index finger and middle finger configuration of Double Hook resembles that of Chicken Claws (left). But the thumb pose of Double Hook resembles that of Idling Thumb (right).

Following pictures compare the compression mechanism of Chicken Claws (on the left) to Double Hook (center), and to Idling Thumb (on the right). The primary difference is in where the thumb interacts with the top chopstick. In Chicken Claws (left) and Double Hook, the thumb base holds the top chopstick, and as a result, rear ends of chopsticks abut each other. In Idling Thumb (right), the thumb joint holds the top chopstick, thus giving rear ends enough distance from each other.

Comparing compression: Chicken Claws (left), Double Hook (center), & Idling Thumb (right)

Dahyun’s Double Hook grip

In August 2021 we analyzed chopstick grips of all nine members of TWICE. Dahyun primarily wields Idling Thumb. But she seamlessly transitions from it to closely-related grips such as Chicken Claws and Double Hook as needed. Here is Dahyun wielding the Double Hook.

Marcosticks - Dahyun - Double Hook - Abutting posture - all perspectives - TWICE TdoongEp6 - sect1 00-32b b c g h - chopstick grip — Dahyun – Double Hook – Squashing the top chopstick with middle finger knuckle

Like Jane from the WorldFriend article, Dahyun uses the knuckle of the middle finger to squash the top chopstick shut.

Jeongyeon’s Double Hook grip

Just like Dahyun, Jeongyeon occasionally transitions into Double Hook. The index finger curls around the thumb completely (below center, and below right). The middle finger, too, curls inward, and presents its knuckle to squash the top chopstick downward against the bottom chopstick (below right). Rear ends of chopsticks now abut each other (below right).

Marcosticks - Jeongyeon - Double Hook - Lefthanded - Curled index around thumb - TWICE TdoongEp3-sect2 00-34 a b c - chopstick grip — Jeongyeon – Double Hook – Lefthanded – Index curled around thumb, and two sticks abut each other

Tzuyu’s Double Hook grip

Tzuyu wields several related chopstick grips. One of them is Double Hook, as shown below.

Marcosticks - Tzuyu - Double Hook - Sequence - Lifting food by wrist rotation 1 - Abutting posture - TWICE YesNoEp3-Trim 00-58 a d e - chopstick grip — Tzuyu – Double Hook – Lifting food by wrist rotation

Marcosticks - Tzuyu - Double Hook - Sequence - picking up food - Max open to compression n abutting 1 - TWICE YesNoEp2-sect1 00-51 f-00-50 c d-00-51 a c - chopstick grip — Tzuyu – Double Hook – picking up food: from max open to compression to abutting posture

Double Hook.5

Double Hook.5 is a “.5” variant of Double Hook. By “.5” variant we refer to a modified finger support for the bottom chopstick where both the ring finger and the pinky provide support, instead of a single ring finger support. We have now incorporated this “.5” factor into our Classification of Chopstick Grips.

Tzuyu singlehandedly provided us with the first examples of two theoretical “.5” variants: Double Hook.5 and Idling Thumb.5. Tzuyu just helped us confirm this theory that many grips have a “.5” variant. Here is Tzuyu wielding Double Hook.5.

Marcosticks- Tzuyu - Double Hook.5 - Representative image - TWICE YesNoEp3-Trim 02-39 a - Tzuyu - chopstick grip — Tzuyu – Double Hook.5

Tzuyu switches between Idling Thumb.5 and Double Hook.5 at will. These two “.5” grips are related to one another, just like Idling Thumb and Double Hook are. In addition, Tzuyu also transitions between Double Hook.5 and Double Hook as needed.

Following pictures illustrate Tzuyu’s Double Hook.5 grip. These differ from the Idling Thumb.5 versions, in that at the open posture Double Hook.5 has rear ends of chopsticks squeezed together. Note how the bottom stick is supported by both the ring finger pad and the pinky knuckle – the hallmark of a “.5” variant.

Marcosticks - Tzuyu - Double Hook.5 - Open posture from various perspectives - TWICE YesNoEp3-Trim 00-50 c-02-08 f-02-54 a-02-55 b-04-24 a - chopstick grip — Tzuyu – Double Hook.5 – Open posture from various perspectives

Following pictures show Tzuyu dropping food off with her Double Hook.5 grip, starting with the compression posture (leftmost), and ending at the open posture (rightmost).

Marcosticks - Tzuyu - Double Hook.5 - Sequence - Dropping off food from compression to open posture - TWICE TdoongEp6-sect1 01-07 b d e g - chopstick grip — Tzuyu – Double Hook.5 – Dropping off food from compression posture (leftmost) to open posture (rightmost)

Following pictures illustrate the abutting posture of Tzuyu’s Double Hook.5 grip, where food items are small enough such that the two chopstick abut each other at the compression posture.

Marcosticks - Tzuyu - Double Hook.5 - Abutting posture from various perspectives - TWICE TdoongEp6-sect1 00-55 a b-02-04 c - chopstick grip — Tzuyu – Double Hook.5 – Abutting posture from slightly different perspectives

Sometimes the middle finger temporarily relieves the index finger, taking over its duty in keep the two chopsticks shut against each other. We’ve seen this often with everyone’s grip. People are not robots.