How to properly learn a technique

When you learn a judo technique, it doesn't end with just learning that one standard version of the technique.

To fully understand that technique, you'll also have to learn variations of the technique. Is there a standing version and a drop version? Or perhaps a cross-grip version? A high-grip version?

After you've learned the variations, it's important to learn the different combinations that can be done with the technique. For that, you should look into combinations from the technique and into the technique. For example an combo from morote-seoi-nage could be morote-seoi-nage into kouchi-gari. A combination into the the technique could be ouchi-gari into morote-seoi-nage.

Finally, counters to the technique.

So, to recap:

1. Standard version
2. Variations
3. Combinations from and into the technique
4. Counters