As usual, you are spot on.

-Robert

The usual reasons, I think.

Fear of appearing wrong.

Fear of being cast out of the pack, ridiculed and so on.

These are stronger forces than many might care to admit.

Also, I know that for me, it simply feels easier and more comfortable to try an mimic what is being shown, rather than seek out the principles behind what is being shown, which can be practiced and applied to any situation.

There also often seems to be an assumption, spoken or otherwise, that no one, or very few, could possibly understand what Hatsumi Soke is showing well enough to change anything. “You have to know the rules before you can break them” is a worthy truism, but can also be a block to taking the risks required to experience meaningful creativity and growth.

Children take small, poignant lessons and apply them successfully in unexpected ways all the time, without in any way having yet ‘mastered’ the material. Should I condemn my children to silence until they can speak with perfect syntax all the time? I’d be missing out on a lot of great conversations if I did that!

The Ramones learned 3 chords and created a sound entirely their own and inspired a musical movement in the process. Should Johnny have waited until he had mastered all the chords, scales and modes before writing a song? It’s no secret that if you put him on stage with someone versed in jazz or classical guitar he’d be lost and would have looked ridiculous. Who did he think he was, putting a band together and writing an album of music when people far more dedicated to music than him had been trying for years and, in many cases, had failed? How could he possibly communicate any sort of musical idea to anyone that could possibly have any sort of meaning or lasting value?

The audacity!

Sometimes audacity is annoying, and sometimes it’s brilliant. That’s just a risk we have to take.

Easier said than done, of course!