Fork Combat - European vs. American vs. ?

American or European? It's your choice, obviously, but the shifting of hands favored by the "American" style seems pointless. Not to mention, in today's dangerous society, one should always have a firm grip on one's knife with the dominant hand. This is especially applicable when eating at large chain restaurants with buffets, where violence is commonplace (Tip: avoid the rush when the kitchen brings out fresh waffles or shrimp). With the exception of some specially designed self-defense forks from the South Pacific, forks in general make poor choices for weapons.



From Wikipedia:

European style

The European style, also called the continental style, is to hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right. Once a bite-sized piece of food has been cut, it is conducted straight to the mouth by the left hand. The tines remain pointing down.

The knife and fork are both held with the handle running along the palm and extending out to be held by thumb and forefinger. This style is sometimes called "hidden handle" because the palm conceals the handle.

American style

In the American style, also called the zig-zag method, the knife is initially held in the right hand and the fork in the left. Holding food to the plate with the fork tines-down, a single bite-sized piece is cut with the knife. The knife is then set down on the plate, the fork transferred from the left hand to the right hand, and the food is brought to the mouth for consumption. The fork is then transferred back to the left hand and the knife is picked up with the right.^[3][7] In contrast to the European hidden handle grip, in the American style the fork is held much like a spoon or pen once it is transferred to the right hand to convey food to the mouth.