Apologies if this is in the wrong area, I've tried my best to find the right place.
I've poured I've the wiki guides (not new to GGX, but never involved in the competitive side compared to Capcom fighters).
I can't seem to use pokes to open up for combos. I try to poke open with 2P/c.S and end up in a blockstring half the time. Anytime I land something (say 5k>c.S>2d>vv> to) it's purely because I attacked with the intent to land it and got lucky or predicted that brief opening. Otherwise I spend half the match trying to contend with turtled corner FD pushbacks on blockstrings and lose my momentum and get bodied trying to land a 5D or WT as I can't seem to anticipate a crouch or standing cornered guard.
Edit:to clarify, I try to condition to lead to an overhead 5D or WT but either fail to condition or get too much pushback from FD
any vids/guides or assistance would be appreciated