If it doesn't feel right, do more reps...

[gzk]

My instructor has a belief that can be summed up with this rhetorical exchange: "'Oh, my round kick sucks!' Well, have you done a million of them?". While I would think he's probably right, I do worry that if I do more reps, but do them incorrectly, I'll actually be hindering rather than helping myself. Or, would it be the case that if they were incorrect, you simply couldn't do that many reps? Or something else I'm missing?

[Shorin Ryuu]

Practice doesn't make perfect; practice makes habit. Perfect practice makes perfect.

Because of this, you will find many people who have trained many years in any style that really aren't that good.

[The BB of C]

I suggest the next time he asks you to do more, ask him how to fix them before you do anymore and take it from there.

[bushido_man96]

Practice doesn't make perfect; practice makes habit. Perfect practice makes perfect.

Because of this, you will find many people who have trained many years in any style that really aren't that good.

I agree. It is important to have good form/proper technique, before going into millions upon millions of repetitons.

[cathal]

It is imperative to get it right, but no one does it right the first time...nor the first few times. Repetition is an essential aspect I agree on that point; but with a caveat. That until it is done properly, an instructor watches over you to ensure you are executing the technique properly.

[danbong]

You can't steer a parked car. Even if you aren't doing it very well, you need to pratice lots. Then as your body gets used to doing the approximate motion it will get easier to make the changes your instructor suggest.

You might ask your instructor if he has specific drills that would help you improve the specific technique. For example, doing slow motion kicks using the wall or a chair for support.

[Symphony-x]

theres no point in practicing the wrong thing a million times: if you've did it wrong so many times you'll never manage to change habits

[ps1]

theres no point in practicing the wrong thing a million times: if you've did it wrong so many times you'll never manage to change habits

I agree here. The practice of martial arts techniques is to change old and inappropriate habits into proper habits. You fight as you train. Therefore, if you train incorrectly, you WILL handle yourself incorrectly. You need to ask your instructor how you can best fix your kick.

You can't steer a parked car. Even if you aren't doing it very well, you need to pratice lots. Then as your body gets used to doing the approximate motion it will get easier to make the changes your instructor suggest.

I think this is an excellent point also. It's possible you just haven't developed a basic range of motion that will permit you to do the technique properly.

Ask your instructor what to fix on your kick. If he/she says it's fine, then it's fine. In general more instruction will come as it's necessary. That doesn't mean don't ask, just that good instructors often have a method to their madness.

[bushido_man96]

You can't steer a parked car. Even if you aren't doing it very well, you need to pratice lots. Then as your body gets used to doing the approximate motion it will get easier to make the changes your instructor suggest.

You might ask your instructor if he has specific drills that would help you improve the specific technique. For example, doing slow motion kicks using the wall or a chair for support.

Good point; I like this analogy. I do think that one should do more and more repetitions as the technique becomes more correct. Therefore, the proper muscle memory gets ingrained.

Perfect practice does make perfect, but nobody does it perfect the first time.

Ask your instructor what to fix on your kick. If he/she says it's fine, then it's fine. In general more instruction will come as it's necessary. That doesn't mean don't ask, just that good instructors often have a method to their madness.

This is a good point as well.

[DWx]

Just as everyone else said, repetition and practice is vital but it will actually hinder you if you practice wrong.

I remember my instructor telling me once about a master he had met in Korea. This master had trained a 8th gup over and over again with just side kicks and roundhouse kicks for about a year. The result was that this child he had been training had the best side and roundhouse kicks most people had ever seen and won nearly all the time in breaking competitions even when up against blackbelts and people much older and bigger than him. The kid couldn't do much else though as he'd never been taught anything other than those 2 kicks..