Well, I'm no expert (I have been training 4 years), but it sounds
like you are doing good. That wet smacking noise is a good sign. But
I'd try to get a hold of the Strikes video and see if you can pick up
some pointers from that. Striking is intermediate to advanced work.
It is better to have a qualified instructor guiding you, but I
realize that's not always possible. The Strikes video will be
helpful, if you haven't already seen it.

Maybe some other group members will weigh in.

*Vsego nailuchshego* (best wishes),
Rachel


--- In systema_group@yahoogroups.com, "recshooter" <recshooter@...>
wrote:
>
> My friend and I were messing around with trying to figure out the
> Systema striking method. I know it doesn't come in a couple of
days
> or anything like that. We were basically just playing around trying
> to figure out how in the world you punch and at the same time are
> relaxed. Out of nowhere I think I "got it" by accident. I punched
> him in the stomach and it felt like my fist went in all the way up
to
> my wrist. He said it felt like the punch, "went through to the
> spine." The sound it made connectiong was different also. It is
> hard to explain what the sound was, kind of a wet smack. It
sounded
> very different than usual. My friend had his abs really tightened
(I
> know that's the wrong way to take it) and the punch went through
like
> a knife through butter. LOL I think it scared us both pretty bad!
> If this is the right way to do it I would suppose it worked becuase
I
> quit "trying" and just did it. It is really frustrating to try and
> get back in the right frame of mind to repeat it! I think we've
> learned not to try that without some sort of pad or something. We
may
> be too careful but we really don't know what we are doing. Better
> safe than sorry. Are we on the right path here to proper striking?
> Or at least taking a baby step in the right direction?
>