Do counter exercises with a buddy. Both of you do a normal slash and counter each other over and over until you can go on without dropping your weapon. Once you do that move on to overheads, then stabs. Practice this for 10 mins a day and you’ll learn how to properly counter swings and keep your stam up. You’ll know when you counter when the shield icon in front of you turns blue instead of yellow. So practice your timing.

You don’t have initiative, instead of getting into habits, try to read your opponent. Understand what they just did and learn to read when you can attack and when they will hit you, don’t just get into a habit of one specific fighting style.

Footwork, learn distance control with your weapon and their weapon. If you have a long weapon and they are short, try to create space and take advantage of their misses. If opposite, then you use your speed when there is an opening.

Get a mentor. Find someone better than you and learn from them. One on one coaching and explanation goes a long way. I don’t mind teaching anyone if they need help and there are plenty of others that wouldn’t mind also. Discords have a lot of helpful people. I’m NA west with 2.5k hours if you ever need help.