Grip the handle firmly, then place your index finger along the side of the blade.
That finger isn’t for strength – it’s for control. It helps guide the blade, keeps your cuts straight, and gives you better accuracy when chopping, slicing, or rocking the knife.
Let the weight of the cleaver do the work.
Guide it, don’t force it.
Once you hold it this way, the knife feels like an extension of your hand.