What, exactly, was "kung fu grip" and how did it become the accepted shorthand for "must-have toy feature?"

by Ellikichi
NeoBeaver

G.I. Joe- The early G.I. Joes had their hands molded for firing a rifle- i.e. the right hand had the trigger finger extended and the left hand was shaped to hold the stock. Then sometime in the 1970s they came out with 'Kung Fu Grip' where all the fingers and thumbs of both hands were made out of this spring type material where you could make the hands sort of grip on to things.

Anyway, it was a game changer- if you were a ten year old boy.