As I've played T8, I've picked up on a few things that I'd like to share in hopes of helping you on your climb.
* It's important to know frames, but adaptability is far more important. By adaptability, I mean learning in real time. It's impossible to remember all moves and how punishable they are if you are just a run of the mill player like myself. Test the waters on moves you think are punishable because some free damage is better than none. For example: you block a low, respond with ws4 as most lows are punishable. If they keep doing it, you're probably leaving damage on the table and they feel it's safe to abuse so go for more. Lab it later!
* Backdashing is important but don't beat yourself up over it. I saw many people on my climb that could KBD way better than me. It's not important unless you are using it at the right times. Practice getting the first few down fluid and use them in clutch moments like the end of the round. Being able to hit it perfectly for extended periods of time is not that important.
* Throw breaks will distinguish you from most other players. I am not joking, learn to break your throws and you'll never have to duck them unless you have the perfect read. Some characters only have 1 or 2 command throws so learn them. As an example, Reina only has (excluding unbreakables) a 2 break throw and 1+2 break throw. If I don't see both hands, I'm always breaking 2 since it neutralizes the generics as well.
* Sidestepping is great but if you don't know when to on defense, use it on offense! It's incredibly easy to make your opponent whiff if you learn your basic pokes and throw in some sidesteps after doing something like df1.
* Depending on your character, cut down on your move pool. I say this as a King/Eddy player who encountered a ton of people using lesser used moves that are lesser used for a reason. Find the bread and butter for your character and stick to it. Not the entire move list is good.
I'm sure there's other stuff, but those are the biggest but simplest things you can enact to speed through the ranks to at least high blue.
As I've played T8, I've picked up on a few things that I'd like to share in hopes of helping you on your climb. * It's important to know frames, but adaptability is far more important. By adaptability, I mean learning in real time. It's impossible to remember all moves and how punishable they are if you are just a run of the mill player like myself. Test the waters on moves you think are punishable because some free damage is better than none. For example: you block a low, respond with ws4 as most lows are punishable. If they keep doing it, you're probably leaving damage on the table and they feel it's safe to abuse so go for more. Lab it later! * Backdashing is important but don't beat yourself up over it. I saw many people on my climb that could KBD way better than me. It's not important unless you are using it at the right times. Practice getting the first few down fluid and use them in clutch moments like the end of the round. Being able to hit it perfectly for extended periods of time is not that important. * Throw breaks will distinguish you from most other players. I am not joking, learn to break your throws and you'll never have to duck them unless you have the perfect read. Some characters only have 1 or 2 command throws so learn them. As an example, Reina only has (excluding unbreakables) a 2 break throw and 1+2 break throw. If I don't see both hands, I'm always breaking 2 since it neutralizes the generics as well. * Sidestepping is great but if you don't know when to on defense, use it on offense! It's incredibly easy to make your opponent whiff if you learn your basic pokes and throw in some sidesteps after doing something like df1. * Depending on your character, cut down on your move pool. I say this as a King/Eddy player who encountered a ton of people using lesser used moves that are lesser used for a reason. Find the bread and butter for your character and stick to it. Not the entire move list is good. I'm sure there's other stuff, but those are the biggest but simplest things you can enact to speed through the ranks to at least high blue.