This Week I Learned to Split an Apple with my Hands
TL;DR
Mike Boyd documents learning to split an apple in half with bare hands, figuring out the technique through trial and error. The video also introduces his recurring series format: learning a new skill each week with no tutorials, just experimentation. ---
Key Concepts
"This Week I Learned" series
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A self-imposed challenge format — pick a skill, avoid tutorials, learn it within a week, document the process
Trial and error learning
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Deliberately skipping instructional content to discover technique independently
Notes
§Backstory: Previous Party Trick
- Could open J2O bottles using leverage with almost any object (forks, knives, other bottles)
- At a party, successfully opened a bottle using a single sheet of A4 paper
- Technique: Grip the bottle cap so the knuckle acts as a fulcrum; wedge the object there and use a lever motion to pop the cap
- J2O switched to twist caps, rendering the trick obsolete — motivation to find something new
§Learning to Split an Apple
- Saw a video of someone splitting an apple bare-handed; deliberately avoided watching any tutorials
- First hypothesis: twisting motion — didn't work
- Second attempt: leveraging/prying apart — worked immediately
- Described as surprisingly easy once the correct motion is found; splits symmetrically down the middle
§Tips Discovered Through Practice
- Bigger apples are easier than smaller ones
- Red Delicious variety was notably harder (denser texture); required more attempts
- Quartering the apple after splitting is also achievable with hands alone
Actionable Takeaways
- To split an apple: grip each half firmly, thumbs together at the top, and pull/lever outward — not a twist
- Start with large apples (e.g., Pink Lady) before attempting smaller or denser varieties (e.g., Red Delicious)
- To open a bottle with an improvised tool: find a knuckle-grip on the cap and use leverage, not force
Quotes Worth Keeping
“
I refrained from watching any tutorials on how to do this — I'm just going to see how long it takes me to figure it out.
“
Bigger is better — the small ones are harder.