Early in your training, you want to fill up your big bucket with techniques. And over time, many of those techniques get filtered out. The filters are things like your age, mental makeup, health conditions, body type, and so on. They’re all personal to you.
I’ve learned a lot of techniques over the years, and sometimes a lesson is repeated, and I think, “Why aren’t I using this one anymore?” But in trying to go back to them, I realize why not. There’s something about the technique, and something about me, that makes the it all incompatible with my game.
That can change though, and that’s why it’s good to go back to some old stuff once in a while.
I think about some books that “changed my life!” and how years later, I’d read them again and the impact isn’t there anymore. We’re not who we used to be. Even if you stop actively learning and seeking1, you’re still not going to be the same person you were a few months or years ago.
I know someone that sticks with just a handful of techniques. He goes to class, so obviously, he’s still learning new things. But he sticks with just a handful of techniques. They just fit him perfectly. He’s so good that people know exactly what his path is, but most can’t stop him.
Learn as many techniques as you can, then discard most of them.
Then every once in while, take a look at the trash can. Maybe you should take something out. But most of the time, there’s a good reason you discarded2 it.