Hi Richard
Yes it’s a skill to learn, though not difficult, holding a sharpening stone at 30 degrees to the blade while sliding along it.
About 200 times if your knife is blunt!
Once sharp it’s little and often, always on one side mostly, with occasional slides of the stone on the blade’s other side to remove burrs.
Secateurs I have not yet mastered 100% though getting better.
Do have a try.
