You can record macros in vim.

1. qq to start recording into register q.
2. q to stop recording.
3. @q to play the macro from register q.

But that last step can be called while recording.

1. qq to start recording into register q.
2. @q to call the macro you are now recording.
3. q to stop recording.
4. @q to play the macro from register q.

Now you have a recursive macro. This macro will keep executing until an unsuccessful movement, for example f is used to find a character, but the character does not exist. Or, when j is used to move the cursor down, but you are at the end of the file.

You can use this technique instead of recording a macro and playing the macro X times. X isn’t always immediately obvious.

For greatest effectiveness start with an empty macro before creating a recursive macro.

1. qqq empty the macro for the register q.
2. qq to start recording into register q.
3. @q to call the macro you are now recording.
4. q to stop recording.
5. @q to play the macro from register q.

Now you have a lot of qs.