Lightsaber Spinning and the Obi-Ani Spin: Moves and Best Hilts

The Obi-Ani spin (also written Ani-Obi) is a spin that combines forward and backward rotations with a set of loops [1]. A vendor guide calls it a relatively difficult, classic spin, and says to learn the basic wraparound and figure of eight first [1]. For spinning, choose a lighter, balanced hilt that fits your hand, and practise slowly in a room with clear space on every side, including overhead [1][3][4].

This page covers solo flourishes. For contact practice, see how to duel with a lightsaber and how to parry with a lightsaber.

What the Obi-Ani spin is

The Obi-Ani spin is a flashy move. One vendor guide describes it as combining forward and backward rotations with a set of loops, difficult and classic, and often seen in movies [1]. That guide teaches the earlier moves in the table below first [1]. Switching hands mid-swing, the same guide says, needs extreme proficiency [1].

It is a stylised fan move, not a fencing technique. The film duels drew on kendo and fencing, according to the stunt coordinator Nick Gillard, who described the fighting as a mix of great swordfighting styles [6]. He also said the young Obi-Wan could border on the flashy and might twirl his lightsaber a bit [6]. That is the closest sourced link between twirling and the characters.

Where the name comes from

One fan site says the move is named after the spins of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, and also calls it the High-Low whip [8]. That site gives no source for the claim, so read it as a common belief, not a documented fact. The Wikipedia lightsaber and lightsaber combat articles do not mention the name, and neither do the vendor guides checked. No Lucasfilm or stunt team source that does [1][6]. The sources write it as Obi-Ani, and none was found using the Ani-Obi order.

The closest sourced link between twirling and the characters is stunt coordinator Nick Gillard saying the younger Obi-Wan could border on the flashy and might twirl his lightsaber a bit [6]. The other moves in the vendor guide have plain descriptive names, such as the wraparound, the figure of eight and the back spin [1].

Common flourishes

How to do the Obi-Ani spin

Two sources describe the move and agree on the idea: forward and backward rotation, in front of the body and behind it. Neither gives a frame by frame breakdown, so treat the steps below as an outline and learn the exact hand motion from a video.

1. Clear the room and check the saber. Space on every side and overhead, eye protection, no loose screws [3].
2. Set your stance. Elbows close to the body, feet about shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent [1].
3. Learn the prerequisites. The fan site says to master the forward figure of eight and the wrist roll first [8]. The vendor guide names the wraparound and figure of eight [1].
4. Top half. Run a forward figure of eight until the blade points straight up, add the wrist roll to bring the saber behind your head, then push back out to restart [8].
5. Bottom half. Drop the figure of eight behind your back until the blade points toward your off hand, keep rotating while your knuckles drag along your waist to the front, and straighten the arm to finish the rotation [8].
6. Join them. The vendor guide describes the result as forward and backward rotations with a set of loops, practised until the two motions blend [1].
7. Finish or move on. The fan site ends it with a strike [8]. Switching hands mid-swing takes considerable proficiency, so treat it as a separate skill [1].

The fan site embeds videos by Michelle C. Smith, whom it describes as a professional stuntwoman and staff spinner [8]. The site carries affiliate links and its steps could not be checked against a second written source, so go slowly and compare with a video. Ultrasabers links to an external video for the move and does not describe it in writing [9]. Practise on carpet or another soft surface, because you will drop the saber often [9].

Learning progression

Speed comes last. The Saber Factory says to practise slowly and with clean form before adding speed, because power magnifies mistakes [3]. The same guide says beginners should start with a basic, cheaper saber and move to a more powerful one once they are skilled [1].

Inspect before each session. If the blade rattles or a screw backs out, stop [3].

Practice space safety

Indoor rooms feel bigger than they are once a blade moves [3]. Look for fans, lamps, televisions, pets and furniture [3]. Uneven ground, even grass, can cause slips and ankle injuries [3].

Eye protection comes before any other gear. For sparring, the same source recommends a fencing mask or equivalent [3]. If you plan to progress to contact, read the parry guide and the duelling guide.

Best lightsaber for spinning

There is no single best lightsaber for spinning, and the sources checked do not rank models (the fan site and Ultrasabers give no selection criteria either [8][9]). A vendor’s own best sabers for spinning page lists 137 products with prices and gives no criteria for choosing [7]. That is a product category, not advice. What the guides do agree on is below.

All of these come from sellers who sell sabers, so treat them as starting points.

For grip, the Obi-Ani spin is held with the palm near the top of the hilt, by the blade end [1]. A hilt with sharp edges, buttons or an uneven grip near the emitter will be uncomfortable there (editor reasoning from the grip advice [5]).

Baselit or pixel for spinning

The Saber Factory recommends baselit for frequent dueling because its blade is simpler and cheaper to replace [4]. It says neopixel is brighter but has more to break under heavy contact [4]. Another page from the same vendor puts baselit at High for dueling capability and neopixel at Medium, because the LED strips in the blade can break under stress [5].

Solo spinning has little blade contact, so the breakage concern is smaller, though blades still hit walls and floors (editor reasoning). Pixel blades are brighter, which looks better in motion. Read baselit vs neopixel for how the two work.

Blade length

A shorter blade is easier to handle for shorter users, teens or indoor use, according to The Saber Factory [5]. It also says shorter blades offer more control, which suits beginners and younger users [4]. A standard blade suits many adults [5]. See lightsaber blade length for how lengths work.

For spinning, a shorter blade passes closer to the body and clears furniture more easily. That is editor reasoning, so test it in your own room.

Spinning hilt or dueling hilt

If you also want to duel, a sturdy hilt serves both uses, and best lightsaber for dueling covers that side. The Saber Factory says even without full contact, a sturdier hilt often works better than a detailed replica while you learn spins and basic control [5].

Shock cord and lanyard

Players ask about cords and lanyards. No saber maker or saber safety page covers them for spinning. The only mentions were forum opinions from staff spinners, which disagree, and a hobby build guide fitting a wrist strap to a homemade saber. That is not guidance for a bought saber, so I will not advise on it. Check your saber’s own instructions and the seller.

Decision path

1. Brand new to spinning? Buy a basic, cheaper saber, learn the wraparound and figure of eight first [1].
2. Mostly spinning, little contact? Prioritise light weight, balance and a clean grip [1][4][5].
3. Also duelling? Choose a sturdy, balanced hilt and a baselit blade [4][5].
4. Shorter user or small room? Choose a shorter blade [5].
5. Child? Active supervision, and read best lightsaber for kids [3].

Sources

1. Superneox, Basic Tutorial on How to Spin a Lightsaber (vendor guide), https://superneox.com/blogs/guides/basic-tutorial-on-spinning-lightsaber (accessed 2026-11-07)
2. NSabers, How to spin a lightsaber (vendor page), https://nsabers.com/blogs/news/how-to-spin-a-lightsaber (accessed 2026-11-07)
3. The Saber Factory, 10 Lightsaber Dueling Safety Tips That Actually Matter, https://www.thesaberfactory.com/blogs/lightsaber-knowledge/lightsaber-dueling-safety-tips (accessed 2026-11-07)
4. The Saber Factory, Duel Ready Lightsaber Guide, https://www.thesaberfactory.com/blogs/lightsaber-knowledge/duel-ready-lightsaber-guide (accessed 2026-11-07)
5. The Saber Factory, Best Lightsaber for Beginners, https://www.thesaberfactory.com/en-cl/blogs/lightsaber-knowledge/best-lightsaber-for-beginners (accessed 2026-11-07)
6. Wikipedia, Lightsaber, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightsaber (accessed 2026-11-07)
7. Ultrasabers, Best Sabers for Spinning (product category page), https://ultrasabers.com/product-category/best-sabers-for-spinning (accessed 2026-11-07)
8. May4BeWithYou, How to Spin a Lightsaber (fan site blog post with affiliate links), https://may4bewithyou.com/how-to-spin-a-lightsaber (accessed 2026-11-09)
9. Ultrasabers, Advanced Lightsaber Tricks for Dueling (vendor guide), https://ultrasabers.com/?p=649991 (accessed 2026-11-09)