Naruto Shippuuden Episode 12

[XanBcoo]

For Lee it's more than just a choice to use his chakra only for Taijutsu. He can't use ninjutsu or genjutsu. I figure it's like each skill or technique is like a puzzle. Some people can solve the puzzle with practice and use the skill, and others can't. Some get cheats like when Naruto read the scroll and learned the kage bunshin technique, or are shown how to solve the puzzle, like when he was taught rasengan. Some have a natural affinity for solving the puzzle, or get the answers via a bloodline technique like the Uchiha sharingan. Mostly it's just practice or natural skill. Lee is just dumb when it comes to puzzle solving. The rubix cube would put him in a coma.

That's a nice analogy, except it implies that Lee's faults are a result of a lack of trying. Lee's just not good at anything, even Taijutsu (I remember Neji saying this early on). He's only good at Taijutsu because he was able to practice it so much. I think that if he had the ability to use nin or genjutsu at all, then he would have practiced it 'til he killed himself.

He's just defective in that respect, I think, not dumb.

[ASSpirine]

Anyone remembered Kakashi saying Lee was a genius? It was when Lee opened the gates, and Gai told Kakashi that Lee could open 5 of the 8 gates. That's when Kakashi said it, he also mentioned that this wasn't from hard work alone. So, Lee does have hidden talent, cause I don't think anyone can do that.

[Animeniax]

That's a nice analogy, except it implies that Lee's faults are a result of a lack of trying. Lee's just not good at anything, even Taijutsu (I remember Neji saying this early on). He's only good at Taijutsu because he was able to practice it so much. I think that if he had the ability to use nin or genjutsu at all, then he would have practiced it 'til he killed himself.

He's just defective in that respect, I think, not dumb.

I don't think his inability is due to a lack of trying and I don't think I implied that. Like for anyone, there are some subjects that will beyond that person's grasp no matter how hard they work at it. And I agree he's not dumb, just inept at the process of solving the intricacies of learning skills in ninjutsu and genjutsu. So he relies on Taijutsu because it allows him to continue living his dream of being a ninja, and because it is something he can get good at with practice. Whereas the other skills are like the rubix cube analogy, you can practice them all you want, but you may never solve it.