The Balisong Quick-Start Guide
Step Four
The Single Flip Up Closing

Now that you've got your balisong open, let's learn to close it.

We'll start where we left off with the single flip up opening. Notice that the sharp edge of the knife is facing up and that the opposite handle is on top:

Roll the knife over in your hand so that the sharp edge of the blade is facing down and the safe handle is on the top:

Press the safe handle between your thumb and index finger:

While holding the safe handle between your thumb and index finger, uncurl your fingers . As you uncurl your fingers, the opposite handle will drop:

Curl your fingers back around the safe handle and then move your thumb up and out of the way:

With a little forward and upward nudge, the opposite handle will swing up and land on top of the safe handle. The blade will follow.

Wrap your thumb around the handles:

You now have the knife closed. Notice that the knife is not latched. If you now want to put the knife away, you might want to latch it. Notice, also, that if you want to open it again with a single flip up opening, you'll first have to roll the knife over in your hand so that the opposite handle is on the bottom.

After you've practiced just a few times, you'll be able to do this in a single, fluid motion:

Click on the icon above to watch an mpeg movie (686KB, 2 seconds)

Notice that the single flip up closing is very, very similar to the single flip up opening. Many balisong manipulations can be used either as openings or closings.