User blog comment:Kogath/Monster Hunter X Discussion/@comment-11537809-20150919164325/@comment-5020152-20150919210939

No, I don't think there was a flinch involved. In fact, notice how the tailblade was a greyish-black color instead of its regular blue hue. Maybe the tailblade has to cool down after it's ignited, like a Gunlance after a Wyvernfire.