As with sword fighting or jousting or any skill-at-arms, the key is practice.
Ground fighting with axes, pole arms, staffs, maces, morning stars or something Stan Lucas calls the "Dragon's Tail" (a type of chain mail, cat-o-nine tails) can be fun and effective at entertaining audiences.
When fighting with axes and maces, one has to have a good aim so as to hit the weapons head to head, and not head to shaft (unless you want to break a handle). Practice makes for good solid sounding blows.
A morning star (ball and chain) and the "Dragon's Tail" are effective noise makers against a shield as well as being good to disarm someone with another weapon such as a sword or axe.
Pole arms can be swung around impressively. They are also good for tripping up the opponent and delivering a heavy impact blow (preferably to the shield).
Staffs can be effective during a ground fight but they can also be dangerous to the person wielding them (five words of advice: watch out for your fingers).
Practice, good reflexes and more practice can produce an exciting display of prowess that the audience won't soon forget.
James Zoppe
Founder and Director
American Jousting Alliance