How to combo start?

I understand how to do combos, combo extend and things of that nature but idk how to reliably start them. I was fighting someone with abyssal karate and I couldn't touch them because they'd keep combo starting on me even when I get away with evasion from their first combo while I had no easy way to get in. The only way i find I can ever get onto someone is by literally walking up to them and using my m1s. I use 2ss and goro. It's probably a skill issue but I just can't easily start combos against some people with fruits or fighting styles that have their own starter. Should I go for different builds or what's up