So I'm pretty new to SCV (30 online battles) and I'm maining Natsu. I know most of her important moves and that she's a very offensive character that needs to apply lots of pressure. Problem is, though, that I find myself defending more than attacking, and the rhythm of the battle is usually my opponent's.
So I guess my question is, how do you "control the rhythm" of your fights/ force your opponent to defend?
If you want video of my gameplay, I've saved some videos of my matches and will probably upload to here/YT soon.
I've merged this into the general Q&A thread where it belongs.
About your questions:
It's a bit hard to force your rhythm on others with Natsu because she has few moves that give advantage on block.
most notably:
PO

which is quite fast but steppable and very unsafe on whiff

.

which is easily ducked



.

which can also be ducked
I think one of the best ways to make the opponent guard much is using strings and their different versions like

.

.

and WS

.

.

for example and so on.
So if you do WS

.

the opponent waits for the last

and you can do something else.
What also helps is that Natsu has some of the fastest attacks:



= i8

.

= i10

:

= i10


= i14 also fast for a mid
But be careful: Abuse of those can be overcome with backstep and/or tech crouch attacks like siegfried

Same goes for


on block into PO: PO A is fast but some tech crouch and tech step attacks can completely shut down everything she can do from PO.
Natsu's fast moves also allow her to interrupt MANY strings and stance bullshit.
BUT when interrupting or applying pressure, be aware of the distance to your opponent because your don't want to whiff from too far away.
A last tip for applying pressure: U can use moves with built in evasion for example



, which has tech crouch and tech step to her left. From frame 6 to impact.
Some other moves with evasion are


= Tech Crouch



= Tech Crouch


= Tech Crouch

= Tech Jump and maybe tech step, not sure on this


= Tech Crouch


_



= Tech Crouch, Tech step



= Tech Crouch, Tech Jump
And many more, Natsu is very agile.
Be careful with this too because tracking mids will hit you and you suffer additional counter hit damage. And many of her evasion attacks are unsafe, some very unsafe on block.
Sometimes it's better to simply Guard and wait for the opponent to do something stupid, Natsu is very good at punishing.