Need advise for technique

B

BADDLEGG

Joined
Mar 24, 2007
Messages
25
I was looking for advise or a thread on proper khukris chopping technique. I heard that when cutting into a tree ,wood ,or a limb (if you know what I mean). That you need to snap your wrist towards the end of the strike to accelerate the blade into the object you are cutting.Also to cut through the object not to cut into. That kinda sound like too opposite ideas of chopping just wondering what ya'll (yes I am from Texas) had to say Any help or advise is appreciated. :confused:
 
I like to start out making my cut on top
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Then after I have a decent notch on top I like to reach over and chop the other side and then climb over and do the other side so to where it looks like this:
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Then I like to cut the last bit under. In this pic I am actually standing with my back to the log and cutting behind me. Might not be the safest for some but I can cut at the angle I want and am most accurate when cutting underneath from this position:
log3.jpg


log5.jpg


Then I like to cut it in sections

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Sometimes if you can't cut under the log (ie on the ground) you have to make your cut wider so when you get to the portion on the ground you still have room to move. Tip: Khuks with Blunter tips like the Baby Ganga Ram and WW2 are better for cutting the last little bit.

ff2.jpg

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Finally cut and stack
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ff3.jpg


Sorry for the regulars who have seen these before but they are the only ones I have of my technique.
 
Cool pics! It's nice to see some detailed pics on techinque. I haven't gotten a chance to take down a tree that size yet with my AK, but I'll be sure to try out your tech. when I do!

To the OP: It is my understanding that you generally want to cut THROUGH the target. I've been in the martial arts for about 15 years now and it's always the same - punch through your target, kick through your target, thrust/slice/hack through the target (with a sword or knife), so I assume it's the same. That's what I do when I cut stuff up with my knives. Remember, your real target is about two inches to the back of what you're trying to cut. Think of punching a human in the chest - your should be trying to hit a point in space two inches or more beyond his spine.

However, control is important also. Indeed, it's the most important aspect of knife work. (or any kind of physical work really) Without control you're just doing what anyone can do - you're taking a big, heavy tool and swinging it with abandon at stuff. You're not really practicing safe technique and you're not getting out your full potential.

In the martial arts we have a lot of exercises for control. First and foremost is learning to practice new things SLOWLY. Let me say that again - SLOWLY. When you practice things fast you're learning to rely on speed and momentum to pull you through the motion. When you slow it down from there you'll find you've got all kinds of flaws in your technique. Start out SLOWLY and continue practicing your technique slowly until you've worked out all the flaws and such. When you practice like this you're learning to rely on proper technique. Then you gradually increase your speed and power (in roughly equal amounts simultaneously) until you're where you want to be. If you start to feel sloppy or like something is wrong then you slow it back down and figure out where the error is. Even after mastering a technique you should still practice slowly as much as you can. Once you start to rely on speed and power all the time, even if you started out properly, you're just back at square one - Drunken monkey with tools.

Once you have enough control you should be able to pick any point in space and throw a cut/punch/kick/etc. with any amount of force and speed and STOP it right on that point. That's where you'll see your cutting improve. You'll start to pick points on the other side of your target and then cut through to the target.

Anyway, that's my opinion on the subject. However, like I said, it's mainly from a martial arts point of view. I haven't had much experience cutting with my HI khuk yet, but I imagine its the same. I've found I can apply all of my martial arts principles and philosophies to pretty much every aspect of my life. :D

Krimson Draegon
 
Everyone develops their own style with some practice. Jim's (hollowdweller's) method works very well and probably is more energy efficient than mine. He takes smaller swings and chips away at the log with a lot of wrist action. I tend to take bigger, full armed swings. I let the weight of the blade do the work until the log is almost cut through. Then I like to take one or two really fast swings to go through it in one blow. That's really just for fun.

The important thing is to take it slow and easy until you get comfortable swinging the blade. Let the weight do the work. Get a feel for how it balances and practice your aim. Widen out the notch as you go so your blade doesn't bind. Once you're comfortable with it, try swinging harder or softer and snapping your wrist at the moment of impact, see what gives you the best results without wearing you out.
 
I use something like a snap cut, especially with smaller khuks. So more wrist, letting the blade do most of the work rather than applying lots of force with my arm and shoulder.

Khuk handle makes ~90 degree angle with forearm, and ends roughly in line with the forearm. Depending on your wrist strength/flexibility you might be able to bend more, so the arm/khuk angle is smaller (tip comes back toward your elbow).

I find this gets maximum performance out of smaller khuks, like the BAS.
 
I did a video of this a while back but it sucked. It's no longer up. My camcorder came back from the shop today so I'll work on getting a new one made.
 
Pure force for me...Hollow beats me every time.
 
i like to use short choppy snap cuts. kinda like rabbit punches. it doesn't tire me out as fast.
 
20" Ang Khola.

Big brute force chopper.

l usually just let the weight do the job.

Haven't tried out my sirupati yet.
 
If I have a good angle on clear wood I swing very hard. If I am cutting over a log or underneath I don't swing as hard and really try to place it.
 
Just went out and did some full powered chopping with my new Ang khola.(and yes I have read the safety thread).I have pretty big hands - I've already rounded the back end of the handle. However the shock travelling through to my little finger was pretty - well truly shocking. The only way I could stop this was to actually lock my thumb into the habuki bolster - even then my hand comes quite close to the end of the handle.
Are my hands too big - and do I have to rehandle?( No problem there)
or - is my technique wrong?I varied swings into target with straight force and also tried it the snapping wrist.The wood was rock hard and the Khukri won - but shoot my little finger copped a beating.
Any ideas anyone?
 
Sorry - to give an idea how big my hands are - I once played with a real Colt Navy .36 - the handle of that was wayyyy too dinky - whereas the IMI .44 mag Desert Eagle was a great one handed ( yes I know better two handed etc)- even that was a wee bit snug but OK...so ideas would be greatfully received re the questions above.
 
About the only times I incounter much vibration in the handle is if I am holding the handle to tightly, this may be your problem. Another thing could be that you might want to move back on where you're choping at on the blade, to much near the tip and you will get the vibration, move in the sweet spot (the kuk will tell you).

I don't know what your hand size is ( I know almost nothing about guns), but I find myself having to go up onto the bolster a lot of times if I am doing hard chopping or planing on the kukri going though in one swing ( small limbing or saplings). Most of the time though when I am using a snap cut having the ring inbetween my middle and ring finger works well (the butt doesn't rub my hand for snap cutting).
 
Jutte?

Not being funny, but...lift your pinkie.

tight grip with thumb and forefinger, but gradually relax your grip on the other fingers and you will find you are using the weight and momentum of the blade more than the muscles of your arm and fore arm to make the cut.

You DO need to hang on to the khukuri, but you don't have to have the full impact shock travel back up your arm. The handle rings help, as does the butt swell...and the shape is not an accident. The knife was made to stay in your hand. It is not like an axe handle which could fly out of a slightly loosened grip.

But, please, be careful.

Have fun.
 
There's a hand size thread somewhere here...Dan did quite a bit of work with it and sampled a LOT of Cantinistas measurements.
 
Osiyo Jutte, Welcome to the HI Forums!!!!:thumbup: :D :cool:

It seems to me that another problem you may be having is that your knife is just to small for such a big fellow.
When I first came on board Uncle Bill sent me a 15" AK and although it's a big knife compared to what most of us are generally used to I knew it was too small for me and I ain't that big a guy myself, just big around and carry a lot more muscle than fat for my size. I can use the 15" AK just fine but I much prefer my 18" AK if I am going to do AK work but I generally find that I prefer another khuk than an AK unless I am doing just downright dirty and mean work. A lot of guys prefer the smaller 15" size khuks for carrying very far and such but I prefer my khuks in the 16-1/2" to 18" size with sometimes a lighter made khuk like a Chitlangi on up to a 20" or 20"+ size. YMMV.:D ;)
 
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