How do you fight with an axe?

[HighKick]

The master of fighting with plain bone Axes.

Good video, but as someone who used the Axe kick a Lot, I cannot agree with comment 1 & 3. Not so much in formal class learning, but there are many, many varieties to the Axe (some of which are displayed in the video). A person's ability to throw it from varying ranges can make it a very hard kick to predict. Sometimes I kept the leg straight but oftentimes I would bend the knee to work the kick on the inside.
In argument, the used in the video is often called a crescent kick so there is a modicum of confusion here.

The 'lean back'. I aver Andy had/has exceptional balance/flexibility in his Axe kick motion, so the (very) slight lean he does is to create more power by creating a leverage for the leg. He never stops the forward motion by driving the hips and has enough power and vertical position to immediately follow the kick.
Leaning too far back Greatly slows down the follow-through of the kick and any follow-up move post kick. Plus, it can leave you in a Lousy defensive posture.

It is a Great kick but honestly, the parts of the kick that make it a high percentage strike has little to do with the actual kick itself.

 

[Dirty Dog]

This is true of the fencing foils I'm familiar with when I was training around 1980. Fairly rigid, they still had bend, but not as much as modern ones.

Ever compared them to real swords? I did a lot of HEMA stuff in the 80's and 90's. I've never seen a foil with anything near the stiffness of a smallsword. Doesn't mean they don't exist, but it would seem unlikely. The blunt tip and flexible blade are what makes them safe. I could easily take a stiff piece of steel with the same dimensions as a foil and put it deep enough in your torso to be fatal.

 

[Fungus]

there are many, many varieties to the Axe (some of which are displayed in the video)

I agree, as with many kicks they can be morphed into similar but different kicks, like crescent kick and spinning hooks that hook a bit downward instead of horizontal. What is even possible, is individual.

Andy Hug was great, but I don't get anywhere near his godly flexibility, I do his spinning low kick, and a easier axe version to the leg/thigh-nerve or kidnet, like a hybrid of 45 degreed downward axe-chop and spinning hook, with adapted angled. But I always hit with the heel, unlike crescent kicks.

The kicks is a mix of the "clean standard kicks".

 

[Fungus]

The lower version of the axe sort with an angle is effectively the same as this one

Similary, if you try to raise this kick to the head, it would morph into the regular axe kick.

The master of the "low kick" version of the spinning axe kick is Valeri

I love this kick, not just because its nasty because it is one of the ones i can do with easy in despite back issues, unlike head kicks.

 

[HighKick]

I agree, as with many kicks they can be morphed into similar but different kicks, like crescent kick and spinning hooks that hook a bit downward instead of horizontal. What is even possible, is individual.

Andy Hug was great, but I don't get anywhere near his godly flexibility, I do his spinning low kick, and a easier axe version to the leg/thigh-nerve or kidnet, like a hybrid of 45 degreed downward axe-chop and spinning hook, with adapted angled. But I always hit with the heel, unlike crescent kicks.

The kicks is a mix of the "clean standard kicks".

Could not go in my style of competition but I could come out of the clinch, still hold on (sort of) and do a straight-on or outside axe kick pretty much at will.
Good times.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I like a sturdy meat cleaver, I use it when practice my Xingyidao(sabre) form at home, it lack the length but that’s good when I practice in the house, minimize risk of hitting and cutting furnitures and stuff. The cleaver gives a good authentic feel to the practice since beside for my form practice I use it for its purpose of cutting flesh and bones…..in the kitchen.

This would be closer to the hatchet/tomahawk. I once treated a young man who was brought in from his families Chinese restaurant. He spilled a bunch of something. His uncle planted a cleaver in his forehead. Ultimately he was fine, but I never ate there again.

 

[Same Trick]

This would be closer to the hatchet/tomahawk. I once treated a young man who was brought in from his families Chinese restaurant. He spilled a bunch of something. His uncle planted a cleaver in his forehead. Ultimately he was fine, but I never ate there again.

Yes, the meat cleaver got a nice feel to it, chopping, cutting, slicing, the cleaver manage it all.

 

[frank raud]

Pete Lagana, inventor/developer of the Tactical Tomahawk, described it use this way, "If it's in front of you, chop it off!"

 

[hoshin1600]

In my opinion, a perfect ax weapon. Can be used single or double handed.

 

[hoshin1600]

Technique wise it's a chopping weapon. It's not a thrusting stabby type. Basic 8 direction cuts. Remember any contact with something will probaby get stuck in that medium. You will need to pull and retract it out, so design your strikes and movements with that in mind. Kicking techniques can help with that. It can be used to hook and trap. dont forget leg strikes. I can reach your ankles with this bad boy. Speed is more important than weight. We don't wear armor anymore and it better be sharp.

 

[Flying Crane]

In my opinion, a perfect ax weapon. Can be used single or double handed.View attachment 33246

What is the weight? I think it might be a bit too much for single hand, at least for most people. A good two-hand option, however.

 

[Flying Crane]

Technique wise it's a chopping weapon. It's not a thrusting stabby type. Basic 8 direction cuts. Remember any contact with something will probaby get stuck in that medium. You will need to pull and retract it out, so design your strikes and movements with that in mind. Kicking techniques can help with that. It can be used to hook and trap. dont forget leg strikes. I can reach your ankles with this bad boy. Speed is more important than weight. We don't wear armor anymore and it better be sharp.

You can thrust with the top point of the cutting edge. It isn’t neat and clean like a dagger or a rapier, but you could get a bad poke that could rip someone open.

Some battle axe designs have a cutting edge that sweeps up more dramatically. Those can definitely be used for thrusting. The attached photo shows such a design. A thrust with that would rip a fellow up in a nasty way.

 

[Argus]

In my opinion, a perfect ax weapon. Can be used single or double handed.View attachment 33246

Strikes me as much too heavy for single handed use, much too short for two handed use.

I'd want a light weight tomahawk, or something more akin to a Dane axe. I kind of doubt that anyone really knows how to use a Dane axe though -- we don't really have much in the way of manuscripts covering such a weapon, with pole axes maybe being the closest but very, very imperfect approximation. If someone knows better though, I'm quite curious to learn. A two handed fighting axe is a lot shorter, lacks a point, and I wonder how you would "switch hands/sides" if you will. Similar to a naginata maybe?

Even a light weight tomahawk is challenging at first, but quite effective once you adapt to it. Better yet if you have two, or a knife in the off hand.

This is just my take from an FMA / HEMA / Japanese sword art perspective.

I could also see Tomahawks being used much like Wing Chun's Butterfly swords to some extent. That might actually work pretty well, though they lack the hand protection you get with the Baat Jam Dao which might change how you have to use them to some extent.

 

[HighKick]

In my opinion, a perfect ax weapon. Can be used single or double handed.View attachment 33246

I suppose it could be something I would have around at the campsite or jobsite, but for everyday protection it just is not practical. I have two similar tools but I don't think they are quite that long and one has a different secondary tool for ripping shingles.

 

[hoshin1600]

I suppose it could be something I would have around at the campsite or jobsite, but for everyday protection it just is not practical. I have two similar tools but I don't think they are quite that long and one has a different secondary tool for ripping shingles.

My work environment would really frown upon me carrying a hatchet around the office.
I play with weapons as a form of self amusement and fun. But I am a strong believer in always having something handy that can be used as a weapon.

 

[Stuarto]

My work environment would really frown upon me carrying a hatchet around the office.
I play with weapons as a form of self amusement and fun. But I am a strong believer in always having something handy that can be used as a weapon.

I used to work with this old cop who would always say "Think weapons" To this day I still think of it and usually have something that can be used to defend myself. Typically, it's my knife but I do conceal carry to depending on where I am headed.

 

[HighKick]

My work environment would really frown upon me carrying a hatchet around the office.
I play with weapons as a form of self amusement and fun. But I am a strong believer in always having something handy that can be used as a weapon.

While I agree, I would not exactly call that handy, especially at the office.