Dave, no one is born with the talent of making knives. These are all skill that one has to learn. As far as hitting the steel way too hard-join the club. It's a basic beginners mistake and one that can sneak back in on you if you're not careful and start pushing a project too hard. I've got a broadseax down in my shop that has some super dings in it that I put there from trying to push forging a large blade, 2.5X22" large. I had to clamp it down to a 2X4 and grind it flat with a sanding disc on an angle grinder and a hand held belt sander before I could transfer it to my 2X72" grinder. I still have one side of the blade to go; my project for tonight.
Besides taking it easier with the hammer, learn to go back over the blade with a flat faced hammer and try to work some of the dings out if they're not too deep. Planishing blows are good for directing the flow of the steel to widen the blade.
Doug