He was the Champion because she was a stupid, reckless fool who didn't know when to walk away from trouble. It did train him well for this place and apparently whatever world Ken had come from was well trained too. The kid could fight, though he lacked the same raw strength that Hawke had.
"Maker's breath!"
Hawke paid for his distraction at the giant dog that little Koromaru had suddenly become. One of the beasts leapt at him and grabbed his right arm in its strange sideways jaws. Luckily, his entire right arm was covered in silverite armor plates that had wicked spikes on them. Hawke seized the opportunity and jabbed the short dagger on his belt through the beast's throat. He had more than enough strength to tear the knife through flesh and bone.
"You and I are going to have a talk about the sort of tricks you've taught you dog," he said as he shook off the decapitated head from his arm. Those spikes that protected him had also gotten lodged in the beast's flesh making it somewhat annoying to shake off.
Hawke summoned a fist of pure force that slammed the beast chasing Ken to the ground with enough strength to break bone. The snap could clearly be heard. Hawke held it down while it kicked and struggled against the magic holding it in place. He stabbed the bladed end of his staff through its neck and sliced through the remaining flesh that held it on. For fun he kicked the head away.