A word of caution with the "Valsalva" manoevre - don't blow too hard - I did once in 1980 and managed to perforate an ear drum and spent the next 3 months on the ground!
I rarely "pinch and blow" now and if I do so I do it real gently. Nature's way of protecting the inside of the ear is to make it more difficult to allow air in, compared to out, to avoid introducing infection etc.
On the odd occasions where I have not been able to clear ears on descent I have always found that they will (eventually) clear of their own accord.
Good luck with the Class I Med.