Start by tightly gripping the handle. Make sure your body is nice and relaxed, with no tension in the neck and shoulders. The hands should firmly grip the axe handle. Be sure that you have your hands placed a few inches apart on the handle before you start swinging. This will help to better balance the axe. Use your non-dominant hand to grab the axe approximately two inches above the head. Carefully take your first swing, using enough power to split the wood, without going overboard. If you find that you’re having trouble cutting, check the blade to ensure the blade is nice and sharp. If not, use a stone to hone both sides of the blade for a nice even cut.