picassoRules are made to be broken, but they must first be learned.  To get good at Aikido, one must be good at the basics.  Without a foundation of skills one cannot build upon it and ultimately "break" the rules.  Everyone has to start somewhere.  Aristotle said, "Well begun is half done."  He didn't say, "Start at the top and make your own rules."  How can one learn to run if they can't walk first?