Beginner Akuma Main looking for a coach

[brittle smelt]

Hi Bloom, welcome! i'm an akuma main and we actually have a thread going with some really good Akumas in this discord already, https://discord.com/channels/195518118603390977/1227912851637927946

i'd recommend getting involved there and asking any questions 🙂

but to answer your question, strong neutral buttons for Akuma are forward MK, Couch MP, ST.HP, forward HP, CR.MK, i would start with these

use your fireball to control space and approach behind

better defense would be to hold down back more and block. A lot of the time when beginning, people are really eager to take their turn back or force it by mashing on defense. When blocking really is the best answer the majority of the time.