If a person reads a lot of theory about how to swim, different types of techniques, other people’s written experiences etc., can they swim if thrown in a deep swimming pool? Or, at least, be able to swim enough to reach the steep end and save themselves from drowning?
By “a lot”, I mean spending over 6 months to a year, gaining theoretical knowledge. And when we throw them in the pool, they are willing to try it, as in, “I have learnt enough, and I am willing to try it out.”
For any skill, no matter which, the more theory you know the more accelerated your learning rate will be. But it doesn’t inherently teach you a skill.
having knowledge =\= learned skill
having knowledge -> increased perception of mistakes/inaccuracies while learning -> more rapid rate of mistake/inaccuracy correction == accelerated learning rate
In a way you could say that theoretical knowledge is equivalent to having talent in terms of what effect it has.