First Learn the Moves then the Art
My son has been practicing kick boxing for nearly six months. He goes to classes three times a week. He can throw punches and kicks, but something is never right about his movement.
The instructor told him to be patient. The instructor can only teach the form but not the art. To master the art, it is only through time and self-discovery. First, we have to imitate. As our skills grows through imitation, we begin to feel the nuances within the art. Through subtle changes, we gain more awareness. Our form and skills will become us as a whole.
There is no shame in imitating but as we progress let ourselves out and we will walk our own path.