Fightin' Hawk 2

[Myers]

Many of the bowie knife methods also apply to the tomahawk. Chops and snapcuts are basically the same thing, but even backcuts can be done with the hawk. The back of the tomahawk head (the poll), whether it has a sharpened spike, hammerhead, or is just flat, can land a telling blow in itself. Sometimes it is even preferable to strike with the poll versus the bit or blade...for instance...when flowing from a diagonal forehand slash, to a follow-thru strike to the knee on the backswing, to a chop to the head. The initial slash may miss as the opponent moves away, you keep him from retreating any further and make use of your recovery motion with the backhand blow to the knee, and then finish him with the chop to the head. This is the primary reason I prefer a hawk with just a flat surface at the poll. Spikes or hammerheads are nice, but on a fighting hawk they can get stuck or caught on things and stop the flow of your combination. Three of the basic bowie knife drills that I practice are a backcut flow, a snapcut flow, and a snapcut/backcut flow which combines the two. With only slight modification, these drills work great with the tomahawk as well.

Keith
http://keith.martialartsman.com

 

[Myers]

Forgot to mention that another disadvantage of a spike or hammerhead on the back of the hawk is that it can get caught on YOU! Sometimes, especially when fighing in close range, it is appropriate to pass the hawk close to your own body. Can you imagine forgetting to allow for that spike and slashing your own biceps or triceps open by accident?
Not good! This may especially be a problem if you also do stick-work where such passes across your own body are common and you don't have to worry about hooking yourself. Anyway, train safe and train smart.

Keith

 

[Outdoors]

Good point, Keith. I've heard that axe and kama have a higher injury rate during practice/kata. I think that maybe the offset blade demands more attention than a straight line blade, like a sword or knife. I was doing some flow drills at home this morning with two khukuris, and the offset of these blades keeps me particularly attentive

Patrick