Many times we have ideas on how to make something work and we follow through with the plan and end with nothing close to what we had in mind. It can be a good thing but consider when you learn to have the goal in mind all the time. For example if you want to stop a fist coming your way and your arm rises up avoid getting too involved with the arm tension and keep moving and seeing what is inside and in front of you. When you are levered you tend to want to return to normal but instead feel where the tension is in yourself and than in others and from that the solution for that specific moment will present itself. For example struggling to get out of a hold in place of taking advantage of his immobile arms and hitting him and levering him at the same time without even using your arms.

Another way to look at this is in your personal practice. Many times you will be without a partner besides god and you might look at a piece of paper with many instructions on it for help. Keep the parameters to a minimal and give yourself freedom to let yourself truly come out.

My best example so far is to spread ten steps with fists over ten minutes. You are bound to learn something from that slow movement drill and something new every time since you are not burdened by working on everything at the same time.