AusBonsai

LLK is quite right in what she says. With normal larger varieties we have to shorten new growth constantly and thin branching occasionally. These dwarf varieties need shoots shortened very rarely but need thinning often or they get too crowded resulting in dieback.
Defoliation is used mostly to increase the number of shoots. These dwarf maples grow too many shoots as it is so it should not be necessary to defoliate unless maybe you were growing a very small tree. Defoliation will not hurt this tree, its just a waste of time.

Hey Daniel,

I like the way it looks right now. It does need to have the base thickened up though, so maybe some low grafts over the next 5 years at the back of the tree to grow out as sacrifice branches and get the base going. Food for thought. I think the branches going up like that is nice, and that the ends can be brought down a bit, but not too much.

Enjoy it.