It depends on the level/frequency of practice. If I were to practice 4 times as much as the guy who does it in 3-4 years, with better focus, and greater intensity, more frequency, I do honestly believe I'd yield far better results. Seems common sense to me. It's body memory and body mechanics, general understanding, and everything else that goes into it----which is all centers on focus....which is reflected in the frequency of practice. The guy who does it lackadaisically in 3-4, or with "regular" committment in that time period........he'll have material for longer, so it may seem familiar, but he'll have diluted results, achieved with less intensity.
I'm not saying its the best thing to do, but I think it is.......I'm allowed to attend lower belt classes in addition to my brownbelt ones (for free). I do that combination generally 3 times a week (2, if I'm working more), combining the two (usually a 3 hour period of classtime, which is really friggin' cool:cool: lots of workout/forms/apps/basics/sparring/general horsing around when nobodys looking:o )....and I have access to it on two other days as well....though I use my Saturdays right now to do Longfist. Mix classtime with regular practice at home on days when i can't make it....(solo is just as important as classwork, I find).....and you can progress "faster" than "regular" students. Just like in college--I progressed faster by hitting the books harder, tacking down more outside resources, etc. You could say, "yeah, maybe you were just busier....it didn't mean you learned anything more, per say....".........but I find that this is often just a cop out for mediocre committment. An excuse tossed out derisively by people upset with the curve breaker (one of the many roles I played in college, when I wasn't pretending to be Superman:o :D ).
Lots of CMA guys say we learn to much in too little time. As a student/educator, I also think there's a danger in learning too little in too great a length of time.
In CMA, and on this board, people tend to take self-assurance and pride in one's achievements as something negative. But I ask--if you're not proud of what you're doing, why are you doing it?
If you have no pride, you have nothing. Why do Western virtues have to be so divorced from Eastern martial arts? Blend Eastern and Western mindsets, and I think you get a beautiful brainchild. Self assurance without self-righteous pomp.