WPC UJ 0ld 0d 0d4 0 r 0f  0<p 0f 0f 0`x 0 f 0Z> 0 CB"\"~ B Hd2Times New Roman Regular< 4:Body Text In: 48Body Text 24 42Subtitle  ."" 4,Title        6 44Heading 6  6 44Heading 5 6 44Heading 4  6 44Heading 3  6 44Heading 2    6 44Heading 1  0 4.Normal<77 4:Default ParaXXX  XXX  dd           d e-@ dd- H  H      >4` hp x (#%'0*> B4      4        CompetitionChoppingTechniques4݌̌     4      4     4݌̌     4      4     XX  ByJimHunt4݌̌      4   4         4݌̌  4   4         Introduction4݌̌       XX  Thefirstpartofthefollowinginformationisformulatedinitiallyfortherawnovice"wouldbeaxeman".Thebalanceisfollowonadvicethatmayalsobeusefulforimprovingthetechniqueofmanyestablishedcompetitors. 4   4     ,, 4݌̌   4   4     XXThecorrectplacetolearntouseanaxe,followedbylearningtochopalog,isathomeundertheguidanceofacapableaxemanascoach.Itispointlessanddangeroustoattemptto"chopalog"muchlessenterintocompetition,untilyouarereasonablycompetentinabasicskillofusinganaxe.Newcomersshouldnotbeencouragedto"haveago"untiltheyarecapableofchoppingalogsafelyandproperly. 4݌̌   4   4        4݌̌   4    4       Learningtouseanaxe 4݌̌     XX  Ibelievethebestandsafestmethodoflearningtouseanaxeischoppingintoalogthatislayingonthegroundwhilestandingalongsideontheground.Firstensurethattherearenoobstructionsoverheadandthatlimbsandgroundfoliageareclearedaway.Makesureyourfeetareoncleanevenground. 4   4       ,, 4݌̌       XXIfyouareleft-handed(holdtheaxewithyourlefthandnearesttotheaxehead)standwithyourleftfootslightlyaheadoftheright,andwithyourfeetabouttwelveinchesapart.Chopintothelogontheleftsideonly,workingyourwayupthelog,takingslicesofchipabouteveryfourinches.Theangleofthescarfslopeonthelogshouldbeatleast45degrees.Ifrighthandedstandtheoppositewayandchopintotherightsideonly.Avoidroughknottywoodthatmaydamageyouraxe.Standfarenoughbackfromthelogtoobtainmaximumlengthofswing.Asyouswingtheaxefacedirectlyalongthelineofthescarfslope.Thisismostimportanttolearntohittrueand"getyoureyein".Learntoplaceyourblowsintherightplace.Keepyourbodyrelaxedandutilizestrengthwithoutbecomingtense.Endeavortoobtainmaximumbodyco-ordination. 4   4       ,, 4݌̌       XXRetainafirmholdwithyourgriphandontheendofthehandleandalsowithyourfreehandwhenyourhandscometogetherasyouhitthelog.Otherwiseavoidgrippingthehandletotightcausingthemusclestobecometaunt. 4   4       ,, 4݌̌       XXApendulumonalengthofstringisthebasisoftheswingandhit.Useafullswingwithyourbodyrelaxedtolearntohittrueandtodeveloptheblowoftheaxe.Slideyourfreehandaboutthreequartersthelengthoftheaxehandletowardstheaxeheadwhileliftingtheaxebackandthentoyourgriphandwhenhittingthelog.Legsandarmsshouldbereasonablystraightwiththebodypartlybentonimpact.Allowtheaxetofullycompletetheblow,drawingitintothelogbeforeswingingbackforthenextblow.Thisisknownas"followthrough",andonceachievedsuccessfully,allowsmaximumpowerofblowwithspeedofhitwhenchoppingalog.Avoidtappingatthelogandattemptingtowithdrawtheaxebeforethehitiscompleted.Theheeloftheaxeisthemosteffectivepartoftheblade.Endeavortoslicetheaxedownintothelogandavoidhittingwherebythetoeoftheaxegoesintothewoodfirst. 4   4       ,, 4݌̌  4  4       XXYouraxeshouldbereasonablygoodandofsimilarweighttothatusedincompetition.Avoidusingtooheavyanaxe.Thehandleinclusiveoftheheadshouldbeaboutthirtyincheslong,nottoothickandheavyasthiscausesyoutolosethefeeloftheaxe.Makesurethehandleisfittedstraightontheheadandfeelscomfortable.Crookedhandlestendtomakethescoop.4݌̌  4  4       ,,4݌̌  4   4         GeneralInformation4݌̌   4   4       XX  Stylesofchoppingvaryconsiderablyandcertainaspectsarepersonalchoice.Noteveryaxemanchopsthesame.Variousfactorsareinvolvedsuchasapersonsbuildandwhereindividualstrengthisgreatest.Itisnecessarytoindividuallyselectthattypeofstylethatmostnaturallysuitsyou. 4݌̌   4   4     ,, 4݌̌   4   4     XXTherearecertainbasicsthatapplyregardlessofmethods.Onceyoulearnbasicsandcanapplythemyouarewellonthewaytobecominganaxeman.IwillendeavortoexplainthecorrectbasicsintheUnderhandandStandingsections. 4݌̌   4   4     ,, 4݌̌   4   4     XXIncompetitionitisnecessarytobementallyaswellasphysicallyprepared.Youneedtobeabletothinkaheadanddisciplineyourselftoplaceyourblowsproperly,keepweightoneachhit,andhavejustsufficientspeedtodoeverythingcorrectly.Avoidtryingtogotoofastandsacrificebasicaspects.Correctanymistakesimmediatelyafteritismade,ifyouconsideritmaypreventyoufromfinishingyourlogproperly. 4݌̌   4   4     ,, 4݌̌   4   4     XXManynoviceaxemenendeavortouseaxesthataretooheavyforthem.Chooseaweightthatyoucanswingcomfortableandisnottooheavy,inthattheaxetendstoswingyou.Tryanaxethathasaheadweightofaboutfourandhalfpounds.Youneedtobesufficientlyrelaxedinyourswingandlettheaxedomostofthework. 4݌̌   4   4     ,, 4݌̌   4   4     XXThehandleisequallyasimportantasthehead.Itshouldbeneithertoothicknortoothin,withanendgripthatsuitsyouandfeelscomfortabletohold.Myfavoritehandleisapprox.7/8inchthickand15/8inchesdeepwiththeusualflareattheend.Thehandleshouldbefittedperfectlystraightonthehead,inlinewiththebladeaswellasparallelwiththehead.Ifpossiblehaveitfittedbyanexpert. 4݌̌   4   4        4݌̌  4   4       Stands4݌̌   4   4       XX  StandsforbothUnderhandandStandingChoppingeventsshouldbeofagooddesignandsecurelyfixedtothegroundorplatform.Makesurethelogisfirmlysecuredtothestandbywhatevermethodisused.Anymovementwhilechoppingreducesefficiencyofthehitandincreasesthechanceofanaccidentoccurring. 4݌̌   4   4      4݌̌   4     4          ChoppingTheUnderhandBlock 4݌̌     4   4     XX   Tobeattemptedonlyafteryouareconfidentinusinganaxe. 4݌̌  4   4       4݌̌  4   4        PositionoftheLogontheCradle4݌̌   4   4       XX   Rigyourlogtotakeadvantageofthebestwood.Avoidknotsandroughwoodasmuchaspossible.Preferablychopthenarrowwaythroughthelog.Ifthewoodtextureisthesamethroughoutthelogandthecircumferencevarieschopthroughthesmallestpart.Placethebestwoodtothetopandinthefrontscarf.Ifeggshapedplacethenarrowpointtothetopwherepossibleandchopintotheflatsurfaceoneachside. 4݌̌   4   4      4݌̌  4   4         Footholds4݌̌   4   4       XX  Cutfootholdslevelanddeepenoughtostandcomfortablewithyourheelatleastpartlyonthelog,justwideenoughaparttobeabletochopthelogwithoutcuttingintothem.Thecloseryoufeetarethebetterbalanceyouhaveandthemorecontrolyouhaveoftheaxe.Anglethesidesofthefootholdsslightlysothatthefeetfacealittletowardsthesideofthescarfwheretheaxeliftsthechip(leftsideifleft-handed). 4݌̌   4   4      4݌̌  4   4         MarkingtheScarf4݌̌   4   4       XX  Markthescarftochopjustbeyondhalfwayinthefront,markingitAboutoneinchwiderthanthediameterofthelog.Keepagoodslopeonthechipliftingsideofthescarf(leftsideifleft-handed).Lessslopeonthesidethatcleansawaythechip.Markthebackabouttwoinchesfurtheroverthanthefront(totheleftifleft-handed).Alsoyoucanclosethewidthinslightly. 4݌̌   4   4     ,, 4݌̌  4   4         PatternofHits4݌̌   4   4       XX  Therearevariousstylesbuttheeasiesttolearnistorotatethehitsinacircle,clockwiseforrighthandedaxemanandcounterclockwiseforlefthanders,exceptforthedrivinghitsinthebackwherehitsshouldbefromtoptobottomoftheblock.Anyineffectivemisplacedhitshouldberecut. 4݌̌   4   4     ,, 4݌̌   4   4     XXRemembertheheeloftheaxeismosteffective.Endeavortoslicetheaxeintothelogandavoidhittingwherebythetoeoftheaxegoesintothewoodfirst. 4݌̌   4   4     ,, 4݌̌   4   4     XXOpeningblowsmaybeoneortwooneachsideofthelogdependingontheblocksizeandshape,woodtypeandtoadegreethestyleofthechoppingused.Afterthatusetwooneachsideexceptforbiggerlogswhereattimesitmaybenecessarytousethree. 4݌̌   4   4      4݌̌   4   4     XXCutthetopofthelogoutassoonaspossibleandthenworkdowntothebottomfinishingwiththedrivinghitsverticalintothelog.Leavesufficientwidthofscarfforthedrivinghitstobefullyeffective. 4݌̌   4   4     ,, 4݌̌   4   4     XXInblocksoftwelveinchesandovermyadviceistohavethreedrivinghitsoneachsideofthelog,primarilyusingtheheeloftheaxetoachievemaximumpenetration.Avoidhittingthetopblowinthefronttoohard,causingtheaxetostickjustbeforeyourturn. 4݌̌   4   4        4݌̌  4   4       BodyPosition4݌̌   4   4       XX  Retaincomfortableandsolidfootingwithminimumfootmovement.Keepyourbodyrelaxed,utilizingmaximumstrengthastheaxehitsthewood.Usebodyco-ordinationandavoidbecomingtense.Endeavortoflowyourbodyactionavoidingstop,startmovements.Pivotyourbodyatthehipssoastokeepadirectlineofvisionwiththeangleofthescarfwithminimumheadmovement.Whenliftingtheaxeupfortheblowbendyourkneesandpartlystraightenyourbody.Legsandarmstobefairlystraightandbodybentattheimpactoftheblow.Withoutanydeliberatepauseallowtheaxetodrawintothewood,formaximumfollowthroughoftheblow,beforeswingingbackforthenexthit. 4݌̌   4   4     ,, 4݌̌   4   4     XXTherearevariationsinbodyactiondependingonthestyleofchopping.Thesevariationsareprobablybestdeterminedbywatchingvideotapesofvariousstylesofchopping. 4݌̌   4   4      4݌̌  4   4         ChoppingStyles4݌̌   4   4       XX  TherearethreebasicstylesofholdingtheaxeforUnderhandChopping,withvariationswithineachstylethatdependtoacertainextentonthelengthofthehandleused. 4݌̌   4   4  h h  1.Slidingthefreehandupthehandlewhileliftingtheaxeupandthenslidingbackbringingthehandstogether,attheendofthehandle,whencomingdownforthehit.Thisisnodoubtthemostidealmethod,especiallyforbiggerlogsandharderwood. 4݌̌   4   4  h h  2.Grippingthehandleafewinchesfromtheendwithbothhandsandretainingthatgripthroughout. 4݌̌   4   4   h  ԀXXԀ3.Grippingthehandleattheendwithbothhandsandretainingthatgripthroughout. 4݌̌   4   4   x   4݌̌   4     4          ChoppingTheStanding(Vertical)Block 4݌̌    4  4   x  &&   Againshouldbeattemptedonlyafterobtainingconfidence,asglancingblowsparticularlydownwardsaredangerous.4݌̌   4   4     x   4݌̌   4   4   x  XXThegroundshouldbelevelandclear.Usefootwearwithagoodgrip,suchasgolfspikesorrubberbaseballtypegrips,ifondryboardsorplywooduserubbergrips. 4݌̌   4   4   x   4݌̌   4    4     x    PositionoftheLogontheStand 4݌̌     x  XX  Rigyourlogtotakeadvantageofthebestwood.Avoidknotsandroughwoodasmuchaspossible.Preferablychopthenarrowwaythroughthelog.Ifthewoodtextureisthesamethroughoutthelogandthecircumferencevarieschopthroughthesmallestpart.Placethebestwoodinthefrontatthecorrectheight.Avoidchoppingtohigh.Afewinchesbelowwaistheightisconsideredcorrectforthebottomhitinthefront,butthereissomevariationamongstaxemen. 4   4   x   4݌̌   4    4     x    Markingthescarf 4݌̌   4   4     x  XX  Markthescarftochopjustbeyondhalfwayinthefront,aboutoneinchwiderthanthelogdiameter.Keepagoodslopeonthebottomofthescarf.Markthebackabouttwoorthreeincheshigherthanthefront.Keepagoodslopeonthetopofthescarf. 4݌̌   4   4     x   4݌̌   4    4     x    PatternofHits 4݌̌   4   4       XX  Therearevariousstylesbuttheeasiesttolearnistorotatethehitsinacircle,clockwiseforrighthandedaxemanandcounterclockwiseforlefthanders.Placedrivinghitsfartonearsideoftheblockatthebottomofthefrontscarfandneartothefarsideatthetopintheback. 4݌̌   4   4     ,, 4݌̌       XXOpeningblowsmaybeoneortwobottomandtop,againdependingontheblocksize,woodtype,etc.Afterthatusetwobottomandtopexceptforbiggerlogswherethreehitsmaybenecessary.Drivethreehitsinlogstwelveinchesandoveratthebottominthefrontbeforeturningandatthetopinthebacktofinish.Leavesufficientwidthofscarfforthedrivinghitstobefullyeffective. 4   4        4݌̌   4    4     x    BodyP  o  sition 4݌̌       XX  Learntoswingtheaxeslidingthefreehandupthehandle.Againkeepyourbodyrelaxedtoutilizemaximumstrengthastheaxehitstheblock.Usebodyco-ordinationandavoidbecomingtense. 4   4     ,, 4݌̌   4   4     XXPlaceyourfrontfootparallelwiththecenterlineoftheblock,withthetoeofyourbooteighteeninchestotwofeetout.Placingofyourbackfootdependsonthemaximumpowerorspeedofhitrequired.Formaximumpowerthebackfootwouldbealmostinlinewiththefrontfootandcenterline.Formaximumspeeditwouldbeoutfromthefrontofthescarf.Choosesomewhereabouthalfwaybetween,whereveryoufeelmostcomfortable.Rememberhoweverthepowerofthehitisfirstpriority,speedwillcomelater.Spreadyourfeettogetagoodlongswingoftheaxe. 4݌̌   4   4     ,, 4݌̌   4   4     XXTheswingforbothbottomandtophitsshouldbeofanevenarc.Theheightofthearc,downandupforthebottomhitandoverandoveranddownforthetophit,governstheslopeofthescarfrequiredanduniformityshouldbemaintained,especiallythedrivingsideofthescarf.Droptheshoulderdowntogetfullbodypowerbehindtheupblow,andtomaintainahorizontalscarf.Comeupontothesideofyourbackfootatthepointofhittingthelogwithyourupblow.Consequentlyyoukneewillbebentforward.Swingrightoverforthetophitholdingamoremoderatelegandbodystance.Avoidstandingtoostraightandflatfootedasyouhittheblock. 4݌̌   4   4     ,, 4݌̌   4   4     XXTheaxeshouldbeheldasifitwasanextensionofarms.Yourgriponthehandleendshouldbemaintainedthesameatallpointsoftheswing.Usemaximumpowerofyourblowsastheaxehitsthewood.Ensureadequate"followthrough". 4݌̌   4   4      4݌̌  4   4         Summary4݌̌   4   4       XX  Someaxemanmaydisagreewithpartsofthesecontents.Thereareconsiderablevariationsintheories,resultingindifferentstyles,witheachmethodbeingsuccessful.IhaveendeavoredtosetitoutasIseeit,especiallywhentakingintoaccountthattheinformationistargetedfornoviceaxemen. 4݌̌   4   4     ,, 4݌̌   4   4     XXIwanttoacknowledgewiththankstheassistancegivenbyLesGilsenanwithsomeoftheStandingBlockChoppingadvice. 4݌̌   4   4     ,, 4݌̌   4   4     XXTothenoviceaxeman,don'ttrytoabsorbeverythingatonce.Takeeachpartstepbystep.Ifyoudon'tunderstandsomechoppingtermsseekadvicefromaccomplishedaxemen.Don'tbedisheartenedifyoutakeawhiletoachievesuccess.Itcantakeuptotenyearsofpracticeandcompetitionforatopaxemantoreachfullpotential.Themostimportantthingistolearnproperlyandtocontinuetoputthatknowledgeintopractice.Onceenteringintocompetitionignoreyoursupporterswithcommentstogofaster,etc.Justtakeheedofsensibleadvice,suchas"cutthetopout"or"makesureofthedrivinghits 4݌̌   4   4      4݌̌       XXIhopethisinformationcanbeofsomeassistanceandwishyouluck.      4   4       JimHunt