New Vanessa Player Seeking Info

Hi there, I have played VF before back in the days of VF4 using just the game pad on the PS2, and recently just brought the PS3 for x'mas, then brought VF5 and the Hori fighting stick 3, using a stick for the first time.

Got into using Vanessa (direct fighting style and brutal), but only play the game in a really noob base level.

I would like to improve a lot to a much higher level, so I have two questions:

1) I am thinking to master only a few moves to start with, say about six moves or so, what are the essential moves you found is a must to master?

2) Fighting stick set up wise, I have my stick on default, which is Square for Block, Triangle for Kick and X for Punch, and I am finding it quite wried and uncomfortable, may I ask how do you map your buttons on the fighting sticks? Also, how does the video game arcane map their control and buttons?

Many thanks.

 

Really nice thanks.