I know people who know a lot of techniques. They’re usually instructors, and they have to know a lot so they can teach a lot. But they themselves don’t use most of what they teach. I’m an example.

I know people who don’t seem to know much at all. But they’re very good at using what they know. There’s a black belt I’ve known since he was a purple belt. His game has been the same through all that time. It’s predictable, but is nearly unstoppable.

In the beginning, it’s about gathering a lot of techniques. But as you continue, you realize you can’t or don’t want to use all of them. You start removing techniques and stick with what’s reliable and suitable for you.

In the end, you realize it’s not so much about techniques. But you don’t get to skip the middle because you don’t know what you don’t know.