Balisong Flipping: From Basics to Advanced Tricks
Summary
Corbin Loven, a professional Balisong flipper, shares the basics of the art form, including safety measures, three positions to hold the knife, and five different levels of tricks progressing in complexity. We provide a summary of the upcoming trick levels that involve tossing the Balisong in the air and adding danger, eventually leading to freestyle doubles with two knives.
Table of Contents
- The Basics of Balisong Flipping
- Basic Tricks: Standard Aerial, Ice-Pick Aerial, and Helix Aerial
- Intermediate Level Tricks: Ladder, Shortstop, Van Gogh, Neck Catch, Choker Fan, and Transfer
- Advanced Level Tricks: Modified Guillotine, Reverse Chaplain, Extended Combo
- The Most Challenging: Freestyle Doubles with Two Knives
- Conclusion
The Basics of Balisong Flipping
Corbin Loven highlights safety measures for handling a Balisong. He explains the bite handle, safe handle, spine of the blade, and cutting edge. Corbin provides a detailed explanation of three different positions in which a Balisong can be held: Standard, Pinch, and Reverse Standard.
Basic Tricks: Standard Aerial, Ice-Pick Aerial, and Helix Aerial
Corbin explains that the tricks increase in complexity after mastering the positions. The first trick he explains is the standard aerial, performed by flicking your wrist to let go of the Balisong, rotating it, and catching it without rotating it too fast or too slow. The ice-pick aerial involves performing a half-turn while scooping the handle, and the helix aerial involves throwing the knife on a flat horizontal plane.
Intermediate Level Tricks: Ladder, Shortstop, Van Gogh, Neck Catch, Choker Fan, and Transfer
Corbin progresses to intermediate level tricks, where finger dexterity and proper timing become more critical. The ladder trick involves holding the handle with your pinky and middle finger, moving it off your pinky while moving it in between your middle and ring fingers. The Van Gogh and the neck catch involve an ice-pick aerial, catching both handles close to your ear or neck. The choker fan and transfer tricks both require the use of both hands and moving the Balisong in between them.
Advanced Level Tricks: Modified Guillotine, Reverse Chaplain, Extended Combo
The complexity of the tricks increases in this stage, adding more finger movements and unnatural aerial throws. The modified guillotine involves throwing it blindfolded, and the reverse chaplain involves rotating the Balisong in a reverse motion. The wrist bump transfer involves throwing the helix aerial diagonally.
The Most Challenging: Freestyle Doubles with Two Knives
Freestyle doubles require the use of both sides of the brain, making it the most challenging trick. Corbin recommends that you attempt it only once you master controlling one Balisong, as it involves holding the knife with both hands and multitasking, requiring precise movements and dexterity.
Conclusion
Balisong flipping is a fun and therapeutic activity that can bring people together and lead to the development of new techniques. But it comes with risks. Therefore, before attempting any trick, one should follow proper safety measures, including using trainers before switching to a live Balisong. Once you master basic Balisong flipping, there’s no limit to how far you can push your skills.
