Yes, take the risk, you must, if the skill is to be gained. That is how we learn. Steve Chappel at Fox Maple had commented that axes weren't allowed for just the reason you mentioned Ken, too bad, well almost the same reason, his timber was s4s and pretty in a different way. Learning which way the grain is moving is a big part. Pat the cat, if you go the wrong way the cat gets angry. This is easily seen with a hand plane and the axe.

Tim