how did you learn the d-pad?

bruh I've never played a fighting game in my life and I'm trying to learn classic controls, how the hell are y'all doing some of these combos that have imaginary directions or buttons not on a controllor?

I can't even figure out what rolling the thumb really means right now-

If see Luke's rising uppercut \(\rightarrow, \downarrow, \south-east-arrow\ + punch)

I don't even know what I'm feeling for sheeeeeesh

did the d-pad actually come naturally to most people? Am I just not cut out for this?

(I've been playing for about 78m btw)