The simple fact is that you'll learn techniques faster if they fit with your current game and what you're already good at. And the flipside is that if techniques don't mesh with your current game then expect the learning process to take a lot longer. The term I use for this is 'congruence'. For example, the berimbolo isn't really congruent with the closed guard and the half guard... This audio rant goes into depth about congruence for BJJ techniques and positions, and gives you some concrete examples of more techniques that are congruent and others that are not.