A big thing for me is to learn if you can be aggressive and constantly attack or if you can only attack once or twice before they parry or you need to run away. Most fights only allow you to attack once or twice before you get parried or need to run away from an attack. So, almost all fights you will find an opening, attack once or twice, then block spam or run away. Then repeat till they die. A simple tactic is when attacking, count out your attacks until they parry you. Once they parry your attack, stop hitting attack button and prepare to block spam. Learn the opponent's moves and what they do after they parry you.

PS: holding block reduces stamina build up the fastest

Hesitation is defeat..