Tapotement

We call Tapotement or percussion any stroke that "strikes" the skin. Usually this is a rapid move.
There are a few rules to follow when doing tapotement:
The hands have to be very lose.
We have to avoid kidney area .
We have to perform tapotement for 40 seconds or more in order to be relaxing.
Do not overincrease the speed or you'll stop before the 40 seconds.
It is a stroke performed after the first half of a massage session.
Do not use this stroke on kidneys, head, spine and bones in general. It is acceptable on the neck but with a very light strength.

Benefits:

• Can be used to excite the nerves
• Can be used to calm the nerves
• Increases circulation
• Used to release mucus from the lungs (colds, recovering from flu).
• It can be used as a relaxing stroke.

Hacking

It is a “karate chops like” move but with the fingers very loose. Your arms don’t move, the tap happens at the wrist. The video below shows howt to perform massage hacking tapotement. Notice that the fingers are not aligned when they hit the patient's skin.

Cupping

The hands should be cupped like when you are holding water in the cup of your palm. This time the arms make the movement, the wrist is not lose anymore.Watch this video to learn how to perform a cupping tapotement.

Fist pounding

Strike with a very loose fist. The arms should not move, it is a wrist movement. The stroke is very loose and movement contains slight rotation. The video below shows how to perform a massage fist tapotement.

Pinching Tapotement

Strike with your fingertips grasping for the skin. It should be a light pinch more like a strike.
This video shows a massage therapist performing cupping, hacking, pummeling and pinching. The guy shows great skills, the technique is excellent and the speed is adequate.