Getting a ginseng ficus hybrid to back-bud

I've had a ginseng ficus hybrid for about seven years now, and the tree is quite healthy. I've tried pruning it back but all that did was eliminate the growth from that point forwards, and now all the new growth is very far out on the branches. I've read that to get the tree to back bud you need to prune far back on the branch towards the trunk but am concerned about losing the entire branch. What is the best way to get the tree to back bud?

ficus can be hesitant to ramify. I have had good luck with letting the trees grow well in spring, outside acclimatized to sun exposure. Once healthy juicy growth started to occur a full defoliation and clipping of all the endbuds on all branches.
This resulted in buds popping all along the branches. Once these start to grow, you can trim back to inner growth.

Thanks so much. So by a full deforestation you mean clipping *all* leaves? Is there any risk that it would kill the tree?

If the tree is healthy, no. But, this is key. You need to make sure it is clearly healthy.

As an example, www.bonsaiempire.com/forum/progressions/...kea-ficus-for-bonsai