Using a “Samurai” brand saw with precision ground and impulse hardened teeth that are nickel plated to stop rust, make the first cut 20-30cms out from the trunk, cutting 1/3rd of the way through the branch on the underside. The effort should be put into the pull stroke with only little effort being put into the push stroke. Japanese blades are thinner that western style saws because the blade is under tension on the pull stroke. The blades are also made thicker at the teeth and tapering towards the back of the blade so that as you cut through the branch there is less friction than a western style saw.