Its important to choose the right tool for the right job, when you know what the job is! When the job might be in doubt, grab a good sharp hawk.
Just finished these Wiiliams Bearded hawks for a great instructor Todd Taganashi. Todd is the owner and head instructor of Renegade Wing Chun. You can check out his videos here.
Made a wooden prototype first so I could could make a perfectly matched pair.
I thought my Sayok hawk needed an extra spike. I felt it was missing a cutting edge for some of the motions we were training.
If good is good, then bigger must be better (my larger full size with sheaths in process)
If you like the wooden handle Winkler designs
My rubber handle Winkler trainer. It has a great grip when your hands get wet.
Todd also asked me to make this Jake Hoback trainer
Also made the Emerson hawk for Todd. Made a belt loop holster for him because I know I don’t like having to drop my hawks on the ground when showing an empty hand translation.
My Tops Max the Mini Ax trainer. I love Tops blades and axes. Totaly over built and can handle anything. I tweaked my second one to have more of a sweeping end. When training with it I needed a little more purchase when draw cutting.
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SOG Fast Hawks are everywhere
United Cutlery makes the scary looking M48 hawk. This handle on this hawk is made of Zebra wood.
I liked the SOG Voodoo also. The handle of this hawk is made with Purple Heart. It is not stained or painted for those unfamiliar with Purple Heart. That is the color of the wood.
My Cold Steel Trench Hawk. Actually this is the one I made for Garrett and his massive mits.
Hard to believe this is what I started training with!!! It worked though. I have never been someone who thought having the best and most expense equipment would help me learn the basics any faster. Learn the basics, then when you know what your, doing upgrade.
These were my old Cold Steel hawks I modified a little. Like a lot of my old tools, I bring them to seminars because there are inevitably people who don’t have all the required equipment (and they always want to use one of my cool hawks). NOPE!
People have asked why the top of the edge is blue. Peter Freedman showed me that as a tip to focus on the top of edge when cutting through so as to not get the tip of the beard/beak caught on clothing.
Click here if you are unfamiliar with the anatomy of a tomahawk. You should know your tools.
