Anyone know any good MK3/UMK3 tutorial videos on running?

I have never once since either game has come out have been able to just run up to an ai opponent and perform a combo or even an attack. I pretty much have never been able to play as anyone other than Scorpion,Subzero,Smoke,Cyrax. Basically only characters that can incapacitate opponents. If I play as anyone else I'm dead in the water.

What am I doing wrong? When I run up to the opponent they always without fail manage to hit me first. Does anyone have any tips or know of any tutorials online?