(0)
There’s a golden era for everything. It was the 60’s and 70’s for rock music. For sports cars, many people will tell you things peaked in the 50’s. Today is that time for balisong flippers. Bladerunners Systems (or -=BRS=-) has changed the game with high-performance butterfly knives. These blades are purpose build and battle ready. We’re dropping a three-part series that will show you how to do all the best Bali tricks whether you just started or are already a beast. Check out our YouTube video to hone your beginner balisong abilities.
Beginner Balisong Tricks
Every god-like flipper starts with fumbles, drops, and cuts (actually the cuts never stop…). We’re here to help you through the awkward ugly duckling period. Balisong master Bill Boyd has got every trick on lock from the Nard Fan all the way to the Cherry Picker and beyond. Work on these until they’re second nature, and you’ll be competing at Bali Comp in no time.
Basic Open/Close
You’ve seen it in all the movies. It’s the basic opening. A simple drop, flick, spin, and flick is all it takes. Watch Bill in slow-mo, then watch Bill again, practice hard, and I’m sure you can do it. When learning the basics it’s important to stay conscious of the bite handle vs. the safe handle. With control of the safe handle, it significantly minimizes any chance of the blade swinging into your fingers.
Thumb Rollover
Opening your Bali is cool and all, but if you really want to impress your friends it’ll take something with a little more flavor. As your skills progress it’s important to learn to let go and stay loose. Many advanced butterfly knife techniques are predicated on momentum, balance, and centrifugal force. You will build your feeling and trust as you master this trick.
Index Chaplin
When it comes to flipping a BRS knife, you know you’re going to get a balanced, competition ready knife. As your manipulations become more intricate, having chevron pattern handles provide a necessary point of reference. The Index Chaplin is an interesting trick because it requires a new level of concentration and focus than the previous tricks. Practice the transition from the knife opening to your flip slowly and deliberately. To complete this trick you’ll need full commitment and a bit of hand-eye coordination.
Full Twirl
I love the Full Twirl, because it’s a trick that is sure to impress and it’s the perfect transition in your routine. You can easily link any other tricks into a Full Twirl. It’s a motion that can be repeated continuously until you’re ready to proceed. Finding the right balance point is the name of the game here.
Basic Aerial
If you’ve mastered the other tricks on this list then I’m sure you’re ready for the Basic Aerial. This is your basic water bottle flipping. The feeling of spinning your knife in the air is sure to be exhilarating. Make sure to catch the handles rather than the blade (duh…easier said than done). Focus on the handles and only go for your grab once the blade has rotated past your hand. At that point, it’s difficult to cut yourself as the cutting edge is 180° from your hands.
Wrap Up
Need a new bali to practice these tricks? Check out our Butterfly Knife Guide.
Did you enjoy this post? Work on these basics to polish up your skills. We’ll be coming back to you with some more advanced techniques really soon! Major thanks to BRS and Mr. Billiam.
Check out our recent post on Star Wars knives for a giggle.
What Balisong are you flipping these days? Do you have any tricks you need help with? Let us know in the comments below!