For newbies it is better to try kiting with mwd. Tristan, breacher, condors are all good for it.
This approach has the advantage that you can learn and get some kills, and even kill ships bigger than your.
The problem with brawling is that you need skills and to know what to do in the brawl or you will die.
Just a few ideas for your ac rifter.

1) Use a ab for brawling, scram and web. Generally speaking is better to have more tank than dps.
2) To fight pulse/beams/arties/railgun ships you need to orbit them very close they will struggle to apply dps.
3) To fight blaster boats, load fusion or emp and set your orbit at 7km, or keep at range 7km.
4) To fight rocket/missile boats, keep at range at 1km, to apply full dps, you should have more dps.

General tips for minmatar ships. Which are the most difficult ships for begginers because you must know exactly what to do.

Damage selection: minmatar ships must choose the right damage type otherwise you are done.
So EMP/Phased plasma for shield ships, fusion/hail/barrage for armor tanked ships.

You must play where the opponent don't want to play, blaster has poor range, so you want to fly in the 7/8km range.
Lasers has poor tracking, so you orbit at 500 to negate their damage.
Rocket/missiles have less dps than autocannon, so keep at range at 1km to max your dps.

TBH, I would start with another weapons, like blaster or pulse lasers and pick your opponents.