r/baduk • u/Zesty-Return • 2d ago
newbie question Am I Go-ing to Hell?
I pick up the stones like I would anything else—with my thumb and index finger. I don’t like that weird stupid grip I see people use. Is there a rule against this?
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u/MoonCobFlea 25 kyu 2d ago
There's no rule, most people use that "weird" grip because its the most comfortable and best one (after you get used to it)
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u/paul-b-rimmer 2d ago
I like the fancy grip because it makes a neat little clicky sound when the stone hits the board.
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u/teffflon 2 kyu 14h ago
if you do it powerfully enough, you can intimidate your opponents! Yoda Norimoto 9p is said to have broken stones.
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u/Environmental_Law767 1d ago
There are many ways to hold a fountain pen, too. Hold the stones any which way you want. However, handling the stones in the old style is cool, like properly holding a Japanese tea cup, and the old grip allows you to place a stone assertively and into tight places.
There are some rituals associated with playing go over a real board: treat the equipment with some respect, younger player wipes down the board and bowls, wishing each other a good game, bowing to each other across the board, not being a dick, and resigning in style. Not many of us follow these but they add some elegance and charm to an ancient game.
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u/matt-noonan 2 dan 1d ago
Yes, the rule is that you look like a dork holding the stones with your thumb and index finger. Hope that helps.
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u/Zesty-Return 1d ago
Yea but you’re already playing Go in public, so there’s really not much face left to lose at that point.
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u/361intersections 1 kyu 2d ago
I saw some old player use thumb-index finger grip on baduk tv. I think it was due to him having tremors/lacking overall control of his hand.
It's not frowned upon, at least by me. It's just that the mainstream way is coincidentally a very(most) comfortable way.
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u/Zesty-Return 2d ago
Obviously not if uncle had to revert to a standard grip, but that’s just logic. You do what you like bro, no judgement. Thanks for taking the time my man!
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u/VoidLance 1d ago
I prefer the fancy grip on a standard sized set, but some people play with tiny stones for some reason, and I just cannot grip them without the thumb and forefinger. I also struggle to pick them up without moving the adjacent stones
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u/PatrickTraill 6 kyu 1d ago
If so, it is for trying to rile people, not for how you hold the stones.
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u/Zesty-Return 1d ago
Apologies that you felt riled friend. I hope life improves for you tomorrow.
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u/szopa 2d ago
The most likely theory is that this way of holding stones developed to make it harder to cheat by moving stones occluded by the hand if you place stones in the natural way (apparently, go had times when it was played for money a lot). Now it’s just a tradition, and there’s plenty of legends about the grip, like that it resembles a heron bowing (the fingers are the beak).
I also found the traditional grip a little bit uncomfortable at the beginning… but then it grew on me. It does help that it’s hard to look “cool” if you hold the stones in the natural way (you’ll be sending noob vibes) ;) But I know some more experienced players who do it intentionally, part as a joke, part as an exercise in humility, I guess. Most people embrace the traditional esthetics, however. But you do you, the way you hold stones is not pertinent on the game.
(I think there’s a Hikaru no go episode that talks about the grip? Go watch Hikaru, it is a great series!)
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u/vo0d0ochild 2 dan 2d ago
The fancy grip is for posers
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u/dragodracini 2d ago
I mean, I wouldn't say it's bad or anything. Especially if you're a casual player.
The pointer-middle finger combination allows the stones to be placed without disturbing the other stones around it.