Percussion is a quick stroke that is light, fast-paced and stimulating, where the body is struck in a quick, repetitive way. It invigorates the muscles and increases superficial blood flow. This is the massage technique you often see on movies and television shows. It is important not to do percussion on areas where the bone is close to the skin. Never do it over the spine or kidneys. Don’t do it to someone who is pregnant. It is not appropriate to do it for too long. This will over-stimulate the area and annoy the person you’re massaging. The strokes should be like raindrops on a still pond not a crashing wave. You don’t want your partner to feel like you’re trying to beat them up.

There are variations to this stroke, though the variations are just how you hold hand is when you strike:  hacking with the side of the hand, pounding with an open or closed fist, or cupping. Percussion is a good stroke to use on tense, spamming or cramping muscles

Hacking Using the sides of the hands, with the palms facing each other, beat up and down the area being massaged, like a karate chop. Strike the area you’re massaging lightly with the outer edge of your hands alternating your hands quickly. The motion must be fast. Keep your wrists loose and relaxed so that the hands lightly bounce on the muscle.
Pounding Make loose fists and use the same edge of your hand that you used in hacking the fist give added pressure to the stroke.

Cupping The hands and fingers are curled into a cup shape, and with the palms facing downward, you then strike the area you are working. You should hear a popping sound like a horse trotting. If it sounds like a slap it feels like one too, so cup you hands a little more. Cupping is especially good to do over the lungs of someone who is congested. Have them lay face down and cup their back over their lungs. It will help them expectorate the mucus. Percussion strokes take some practice to do correctly and you will probably not use them often with a sensual massage. They are best used at the end of a sensual massage when you partner wants to be alert and invigorated.