You mention going upward. Being an old timer myself, in my youth I watched many a barber strop a razor. The hook that the strop hung on was built into the barber's chair and hung just a bit below waist high. I use zip ties (cable ties) to attach the strop to a door knob. For me that happens to be a bit below waist high and works well.

Something I read in the barber manual was to practice flipping the razor between your thumb and forefinger on the strop without moving your arm. When you have that down strop slow and easy. Speed will come. I concur with welshwizard about nicking the strop if you let your mind wander. I put a bad nick in my Tony Miller latigo doing just that. It was after 1AM and I was really tired but didn't want to go to bed without shaving. So I would add to the mind wandering thing not to strop when you are fatigued.