Step 1 : DONT JUMP! Everyone and their brother either knows their AntiAir normals, or at least are chomping at the bit to let their Shoryuken loose. Keep it on the ground 99% of the time.
Step 2 : Learn your best pokes. Learn your footsies. If you're going to keep it grounded, you need to be able to hold your position as well as pressure, safely.
Step 3 : Know your Anti-Airs. Whether its a couple of solid situational normals, or a shoryuken you want to be able to knock them out of the sky so you can start to mount offense. Just like I said before about not jumping, if they crack first and jump, be ready to punish them for it.
Step 4 : Learn your combos. You'll likely need to go to SRK or a simillar site for this. Learn the best damaging combos so you can take advantage of any opening.
Beyond that, its learning frame data and matchup knowledge. Knowing that situational punish that will net you x extra damage against 4 specific characters. But basically, play as safe as possible.
Give them nothing.
Take from them everything.
