age 34 on the first level. How to get better?

[davidguy207]

How do I get better at this game. Because I think dying 10+ on the first level isn't a good thing. Also is controller recommended for this game?

[JAG]

Honestly, 34 is already better than most. Dying 10+ times on the first level isn't a good thing, but it's not unexpected. The game is quite punishing, it's par for the course, don't be discouraged or think that you're doing something wrong. Death is but a path to mastery!

That said...
1) I really really hope you're not playing on Master difficulty. If you are, I'd advise not to.
2) Play through the tutorials! You can access them via the wooden dummy in the Wuguan. They'll teach you the defensive mechanics and some basic good habits. An hour of training is worth a thousand forum posts. Pay close attention to Deflect, Parry and Avoid.
3) Make use of the training mode! Available through the very same wooden dummy, you can learn movesets of any enemy/boss, as long as you defeated them at least once.
4) Stop Dodging (pressing the sprint button) and start Avoiding. Dodging doesn't restore your structure and doesn't allow you to counterattack enemies, it's a repositioning tool.
5) Honestly, since you're seeking advice outside of the game, I might as well shill my guide:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2949828935

Both keyboard and controller are equally viable. I'm biased towards keyboard, especially since it technically has the advantage for directional inputs (i.e. Crotch Punch, Snap Kick, Palm Strike), but it's negligible.