these are the key words in the thread, in my opinion
there’s a limit to how much value practicing before you really know and understand what you’re looking for can have for you (note; i’m not suggesting it will have no value, just that there’s a limit on it)
it’s one of these things where the general viewpoint among “forum members and other beginners” and that among “people trading for a living” will always be hugely different
beginners and those not-yet-successful and the great majority of forex traders who never actually become successful (said by some to be 95%!!) will usually tell you to start practicing on demo as soon as you can and that there’s no downside to it
people trading for a living will very often tell you the exact opposite
as with everything else, it’s always your choice which group you want to be guided by
when i learned to trade (in the early 1980’s - i’m showing my age again!) as part of a graduate-entry cohort doing a professional trading-course in the industry, we weren’t allowed to start practicing on a demo account (yes, they had demos, even as long ago as that!) until we’d finished the theory course, which was LONG - but we all went on to become professional traders (with lots of further support and help, admittedly)
so there are different perspectives, and in this case, i think, two different groups offering them
“theory before practice” makes sure that the practice - when you get to it - is focused, relevant, educational and helpful ![:wink: :wink:](https://f.bpcdn.co/images/emoji/twitter/wink.png?v=9)
i offer this viewpoint knowing that it will be a minority one (and i do so in the hope that in a field in which such a small proportion ever become successful, it’s actually pretty easy to appreciate that majority viewpoints can sometimes be rather mistaken!)
i hope it helps you, anyway, and i wish you well, @kabzy166