This is how I did it. I surfed all the forums and found videos and any other written descriptions of 3D moves. I studied all of them and got to know them by name. I got a sim over the winter and practiced all of them. Aerofly Pro is by far the best 3D sim out there (for me). Keep practicing everything and make sure you can do it on the sim first. I highly recommend learning torque rolls even though they seem impossible to learn. Once you learn how to save your 3D arf at any attutude, which torque rolls teach you, crashes are much more unlikely (but still possible). That's one thing about 3D, you can save yourself from almost any situation with a blast of engine and the right stick movements. It's less stressfull and panicky since you always fly on the edge when you're 3D'ing. It's a good thing to get into IMO.

Oh I almost forgot, I totally agree with the profile plane recommendation. They are the most stable ARF's out there of their size. They are also not expensive. Foamies are good too but not sure if they are the best first 3D plane. I'm building one now, so I have to see how easy they are to fly.