1) In training, I remember spending a lot of time doing repetitions of a move, like X number of spear thrusts, whatever.

I think the greatest progress I made after that came from realizing that the only one that counted in regards to how I use the move was the first one. All the rest were a part of a pattern that had been reinforced, only the first one reflected the real move how I do it without rehearsal.

So I broke up all patterns with footwork, and moved away from doing large numbers, focusing on quality, what was wrong with it and how to fix it.

2) In focusing on repetition, I always took to the idea that if you do something a bunch of times, you will become good at it and all problems with it will go away. In time, I felt that it was better to count on knowledge to improve a move than repetition. Once the move was understood well, repetition over time will make that move natural, but repetition alone isn't enough.

3) Scotch