In regards to finding what works for you I think everyone agrees with this at one level or another, conscious or unconscious. Lets take our sport for example, you will never find 2 people who do the exact same thing the exact same way this because of the progress we make on our journey and everyone's journey is as unique as they are. We either instinctively learn or we go out of our way to find what works best for us and those help shape our game.
And he makes a great point with understanding the principles of what a submission requires (I need X, Y, & Z) over the technique must go from point A to B to C to achieve the submission and how this change of mindset can open up your game if you allow it.