I learned not only by practising, but by fighting superior duellists most of all.
Tracking their movements, getting to know them, their tricks and tactics-in short, everything.
But at the end of the day, no matter the version of combat, it's up to intelligence most of all and planning. When you are being pushed on the back pedal by someone stronger than you, then you must be cunning enough to outsmart them, you have to improvise. When you are pushing the other to their limits, then you must be prepared for all sorts of surprises, as I stated, intelligence is what actually wins most hard-fought battles, not ,,exceptional skill".