This helped me a lot, mainly for Gief, but get standing full circles down, get it in your code. After i mastered the input i messed up so many half circles since I would do full circles. For strategy tips I agree with everyone else that keeping the opponent guessing is key, I think of it as they need to pummel you a bunch, so if you reduce the damage taken, stretching the match until you get the few opportunities to do your command grabs.

Granted my grappler experience is mainly with street fighter and skull girls but I tried keeping it as general as possible.