NO! do NOT filp the blade! you know that little bearing that the back of the blade runs up against when to much foward pressure is on the blade, well imagian that not being there. And the blade breaking and sending your arm half way across the room.
I used a 9incher and it took some monuvering, but it worked fine.
jig saw, and a drum sander (or flush cut router bit) will work ok, but much better to use a bandsaw.
if you use a jig saw, the blade has a tendancy to wonder, and you will need to get a high grade blade from the hardware store.
and also, give you jigsaw a break every now and then when cutting a body, thats a whole lot of stress on the poor thing.