By all means learn the basics first. I see so many people these days that can do some 3D flight ( harrier, waterfall, hover) and they cant fly a straight line to save their life! If you learn the basics first then learning 3D will come much easier. Practice your straight and level flight first. Concentrate on flying the same line back and forth both up right and inverted, keep the aircraft on a constant heading, altitude, and make the line exactly parallel to the runway approximately 100 ft out from you. Once you get that down then start implementing some rolls and point rolls on that line. Then start your loops on that line centered in front of you concentrate on keeping it round entering and exiting at the same altitude and same line and heading. Work on stall turns at either end of the field to turn around. Then just start working on a variety of many different maneuvers, but concentrate on keeping them precise, on a line and positioned properly. Once you learn the basics of "normal" aerobatics then you can break in to the 3D realm. If you look at all the top flyers right now you will find that in the top 20 or so 3D flyers, we all have a good strong base in precision flying. That is what separates the top 3D flyers from the rest, and gives the ability to put together a freestyle routine that combines all elements of flight! Nothing looks better than 3D done precisly rather than floppin around. Just my $.02 worth