The Kodokan syllabus is well-organized and is designed to be learned bit by bit. Everything builds upon previous material. Similarly, do not teach techniques to your juniors until sensei has instructed them first.
Some schools encourage students to learn kata from video tapes.
Do not ask to be taught a new technique or kata . When you get a black belt, you can start exploring the whole range of possible techniques on your own. Until then, concentrate on mastering the fundamentals. This will provide a solid foundation for your later training and experimentation.