How to use a balisong knife effectively?

A balisong knife is a knife that is typically characterized by two handles that meet at the center of the blade, which both form and lock into place around the tang. The knives can fold into a compact form for easy concealment and storage, so they are not illegal to carry or bring onto an airplane.

The mechanisms on these knives allow for various forms of manipulation including flipping and twirling end-over-end, with practice. These mechanisms also make it possible to deploy very quickly with one hand when needed in a self-defense situation.

This knife is also known as butterfly knife or batangas knife. The name comes from the old Filipino word balisong, which means "two wings" or "two sides".

Inventions of Butterfly Knives

In the mid-1950s, this knife was used as an alternative to switchblades in the United States. Switchblades were banned, but that did not stop companies from selling them because of a loophole allowing them to be made and sold if they were clearly marked as “Switchblade pocket knife”. 

In response to this loophole, Filipino knife makers began making these knives that are also called Batangas or Butterfly knives. These cool knives are a cultural icon for Filipinos and for knife enthusiasts all over the world. " History shows that the butterfly knife dates back to the 1700s. 

However, this was brought into the spotlight when American soldiers returning home after World War II brought them back with them. The original Americans who brought back these pocket knives called them “butterfly knives'' due to their folding design that resembled a butterfly or bat. This name stuck until today, although the knife is just as commonly referred to as a Balisong.

Balisong knife

Balisong Knife Design

A common variation for a knife design is the bexar-becker, sometimes called a Becker-Bexar due to its creator and patent holder, Jim Becker. A Becker-Bexar knife has the same overall shape and function as a standard balisong but uses two handles instead of one. 

The two handles are typically attached by ball bearings at either end of a folder which opens up like an accordion. The knife is popular among pocket knife collectors and martial artists.

This knife shall be deemed to be a weapon" because it is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that can inflict great bodily injury or death, and it is not reasonably capable of being used as a conventional pocket knife.

How to Use a Butterfly Knife?

"Those who are unfamiliar with the Balisong Knife might ask, “How do I use one?”. Well, it is not as difficult to learn how to use this knife as one might think- so long as you have someone teach you in person. For those who want to learn in detail how to use a butterfly knife, or would just like some general tips and hints, read on."

There are several steps for learning how to use a real butterfly knife. While some of these steps may seem simple, it is important that you remember them when learning how to use a balisong: There are more advanced ways to open and close this knife if you would like to master the art of it. However, the basics are all that you need in order to know how to use a Balisong.

  • Opening the Knife

One way to inflict pain with a balisong knife is to open it by hand. Another way is to use two hands, and twist the blade until you can loosen the handles enough to grip them. 

A third way is to use one hand and place your index finger along the bottom of one handle, while your thumb or other fingers are on top of the other handle at the opposite point, pushing each blade away from each other until they separate enough for you then grab them both with your fingers or a second set of hands without cutting yourself.

  • One Handed Opening

There is actually a pretty easy way to open your knife with one hand. The trick is to use your other hand as leverage by wrapping it around the handle of the knife before trying to pry up on the blade with your second pointer finger. 

With this method, you'll be able to open your knife with one hand just as easily as you would if you were lifting it from the handle (which is much easier to do, I might add). When you open a butterfly knife trainer with one hand, or pick it up by the handle and try to lift it, there is a small gap between the blade and the handle. 

Butterfly knife trainer

This little gap allows for an easy way to open your knife. If you pull on the blade with your first finger and then try to lift it, then you can use your second finger to pry up on that spot between the blade and the handle until it pops off after just a few seconds of effort.

  • Two Handed Opening

There are many different ways to open a balisong knife. The most popular methods are the two handed, Chinese finger trap and the one handed conventional way. Begin by holding the handle of the knife upside down in both hands and aligned with your forearms straight out in front of you.

Use your thumbs to pull the blade and handle apart until it is at least 180 degrees. The blade should be parallel to the ground or in an upwards position. At this point, you can choose what type of opening you want to do. 

The two handed method involves bringing both hands back to their original position, closing the knife with your hands on each side of the handle and flipping it over with your thumbs. With this method, both sides of the balisong are opened at once and are of equal speed.

  • Closing the Knife

With a lot of patience, work, and practice, you can learn how to close a balisong knife. It's tricky, but it doesn't have to be difficult if you follow these steps.

  1. Get comfortable in your stance.
  2. Hold the knife handle facing forward with your palm holding the blade.
  3. Spread your fingers wide apart and hold the knife by its blade with a loose grip on the handle.
  4. Keep rotating your hand so that you do not lose contact between the blade and handle at all times, as this will keep it from slipping. 
  5. When ready to perform a move, place both hands on one of your knees for stability. Move into position by pushing off of one knee to gain momentum, then rotate around to try another move. Say goodbye to boring "show time".

Also Read: Improve Your Butterfly Knife Tricks


Butterfly Knives for Self Defense

The balisong knife is a Filipino weapon that was developed in the 1800's that can be described as a folding dagger or dagger-type knife with a handle on one side. It was developed by the warring tribes of the Philippines and it was used to defend against spears and crossbows by flipping it into an upward firing position to deflect attacks.

It's also been known to be used for hunting purposes, but it wasn't re-discovered or rediscovered until the 1970's when Paolo B. Manansala (great-grandson of Maxo Manansala) started teaching these knives to people wanting self defense techniques. 

This is a very flashy knife, but the undisputed reason for its popularity and widespread use across the world today is for its effectiveness as a self-defense weapon. While it's true that there are no guarantees when it comes to safety, there is something to be said about choosing the right tool for a job. 

The butterfly knife can be quite effective in situations where you are faced with multiple attackers and might need to protect yourself by defending yourself against their weapons if they approach you with them. This can make the difference between life and death if used correctly.

A Balisong Knife is A Multipurpose Tool!

A Balisong is not an easy knife to use. This is one of those knives that you need to practice if you would like to get good at it. Learning how to open and close the knife can be an overwhelming process. It is a mechanism that you will have to learn with your fingers (and hands) so that you do not cut yourself."

This knife is a unique and unusual kind of "folding" pocket knife that has two handles that rotate around the blade so that, when closed, the blade comes into contact with both of the handles. Although it may look like a weapon, the blade of a balisong is not sharpened edge-wise but rather blunt (although some people do sharpen it in combat situations). 

Also Read: Easiest Butterfly Knife Tricks