Ao2 - Chetki - Pozvonok

Pozvonok Chetki - Wood Editions

Aroundsquare’s Pozvonok Chetki are our take on the classic perekidnye chetki or flipping beads (перекидные четки) otherwise known as “Russian prison beads”. They are designed for flipping, much like a balisong or a set of begleri, and with practice, a wide variety of tricks and combinations can be performed. But as the name suggests, these beads have a unique back story.

Our first entry into this new product category is the "Pozvonok", meaning "spine" in Russian, which is a nod to the roots, as well as descriptor of the form factor. The structure of these beads gives an articulated length which can be flipped in a linear manner, but still has enough flexibility that it doesn't feel rigid along other planes. The simple structure is one that is common in Russian chetki, but our materials give a fresh look and feel to the classic. The slightly weighted ends provide a familiar feel for begleri players, while the overall play experience is dramatically different.

Flipping chetki has elements in common with short game begleri, komboloi manipulation, and and balisong or butterfly knife flipping, and moves from all three can be incorporated into your flow. Although weighted ends are reasonably common in Russian chetki, they are not the standard. Many sets have extended light ends, manipulated with a very quick flipping style. For players wanting to get a taste of both styles, each set of Pozvonoks will include a few additional beads that will allow you to slightly extend the length of your chetki, and also, to swap in lighter ends to give a different feel to the game. Note that stringing these up takes a minute, and they are intended to be played at a fixed length.