Repetition is a part of the learning process. Every martial art and combat sport system uses this principle in teaching. I think it is self-evident for everybody. But to what extent repetition can shape our individual styles? The answer is: partially because a learning process cannot override our endowments entirely.
Imagine a group of people repeating the same movements over time, like a karate team doing certain forms together or Shaolin monks doing the same techniques million times. Imagine you know each person very well in an exercising group because you are the assistant or the teacher of the group. Now, imagine that their faces are covered, and they are in totally the same uniforms. (Suppose they are the same in height and body type). Can you differentiate their movements and recognize them by their moves only even though they try to do the same techniques? I think the answer is yes. Similarly, in everyday life, all the people are moving, walking, running differently, although they are practising the 'same' movements over time. Then, repetition cannot determine the style alone.
Repetition has two results.
One is the subconscious creation. The other is the replacement of previous reactions with new ones. But there must be something very personal mixed with the learned moves. Having a unique style comes from this very complex background. Always these two 'forces' shape our style in fighting as well as in general. Every person has natural endowments by birth which is the backbone of the person's style. That naturally determined style can be shaped and modified but cannot be replaced by repetition. Individuality is always a living force that cannot be ignored and enforced but can be supported. Supporting individuality might make progress faster. Then we always need to keep in mind that there are two forces present. One is the inborn and natural (nature), and the other is the societal part from outside (nurture).
The results of two forces (inborn and social factors) make us who we are, in general, and how we appear to others. When we are talking about our fighting styles, we are talking about their outcomes. For example, if someone studies three different martial art styles (at the same time, or one after the other), the result is determined by inborn qualities. And if someone study one and only one traditional style, their individual fighting style is also determined by their inborn qualities. These differences are recognizable to everyone. They are our InFi styles.
