SIMULATOR< SIMULATOR!!!!!!
It does help. Yes the blades can and do slice and dice. I fly 550 sized helicopters and I fly them away from me.
What helicopter do you have? radio and all the gory details will help with setup and pre flights.
Best bet would be to find some one near you. When I started flying I drove an hour and a half each way on Saturdays to learn how to fly and setup my helicopters. Well worth the effort.
Buzz.