Bruise, go slow, and start out with your shortest khuk, or most manageable khuk. Maybe it was the khuk talking to me, or that I had played a very little serious badminton long ago, but I caught onto the key wristsnap thing right away. Go for smooth, easy, not too fast arm swing with control and precision, then snap the wrist as described. Don't try to use a lot of force. The khuk will do the rest. And for safety's sake, make sure that the knife can't swing through back to you until you really know what's going on. So use a chopping block or something at first. Wear shoes!! Later on you can try to slowly develop a movement that resembles slow-motion cracking of a whip, from your shoulder to the wrist, then to the khuk's sweet spot which hits where your'e aiming. You will be amazed at the power. And the blade does almost all the work. Don't try this until you know you can hit the sweet spot, or you'll get a nasty jolt to your hand. It's not brute strength, but smoothly accumulating and focusing momentum with full control. Easy does it. That's why khuks are so entrancing to use. I can't pull this off with my 25" sirupati, my wrist isn't strong enough, that's more of a one-handed sledge-hammer or axe movement, which also just accumulates and delivers momentum with a minimum of effort on your part, letting the tool do the work. Three nearly effortless hits to acomplish the cut are much easier and safer than a single, out-of control, slash that takes a huge amount of effort. When cutting branches, aim within and inch or two of the trunk so the springiness won't fight against you. Slow, smooth control, beats flailing anytime, you can keep it up much longer, and you'll be certain to return home intact!! Enjoy.
so I won't be able to put a huge amount of weight into the swings.
