The Rules

In any field, in any endeavor, in any microcosmic world, you have to learn the rules before you can break them. You have to have an understanding of what you are dealing with. Once you understand the boundaries, the limitations, the edges, then you can (dare I say it) push the envelope or (better yet) break out of the box. LOL!!!! But seriously, when you start your training, you have to learn how the game is played. You have to learn how to move your body in ways that your body is not used to moving. Sometimes students will try a move for the first time and say "It doesn't feel right!" I always wonder how they know what "right" feels like if they've never done it before. Once you train your body to move the correct way and likewise, to respond in the correct way, then you can start to experiment and try out different things. You have to learn the basics first. I'm sure you've heard it a million times...learn fundamentals. Learn basics. Master those first...then you can push envelopes or break out of boxes or mix whatever metaphor you would like.