I was born in Russia, we were taught to hold a pen a certain way. We had exercises too (one I remember: grip the pen (with 3 fingers) and dab it forward-and-bac

I was born in Russia, we were taught to hold a pen a certain way. We had exercises too (one I remember: grip the pen (with 3 fingers) and dab it forward-and-back by bending the three fingers and unbending them). I was shocked at the way people help pens in the US when I arrived. The grip we were taught I believe gives you more control over the pen, with no straining -- just an elegant extension of fingertips.