I also believe that the flipping is not for flipping's sake. It has to do with picking up and using the weapon in a reverse grip.
Lastly, I have problems with the sword form.
("THE" sword form? Which one is that?))
It's so...simple, direct, straight, etc. Any weapon doesn't work well like that.
((Depends on what you have seen or ben shown))
There's not follow-through or flow in most traditional practices with it.
((Again- deepnds on what you have seen))
Look at the way Ryan does it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_YJBthjqlw
((Ugh))
He HAS to follow through and let the weight of the knives carry through.
The sword form that a lot of Ip Man folks have is crap, anyways.
((Ip Man taught only a few the form- the rest some san sik here and there))
Like the form is some coveted piece of artwork or something when there was nothing but Sik anyways. Even in my (Moy Yat) 'family tree' there are HUGE discrepancies on where footwork is missing, changed, etc. No back-kick in Wing Chun? I've met someone who has one in their sword form.
((When the original is incomplete- all kinds of variations can occur))
Not to derail this thread...just my ideas on knife stuff.
Best,
CTK