It's difficult to judge whether someone is better than you at times. People who mash, people who abuse their pizza box router, and people who actually know what they're doing. Honestly just fight people that are fun to fight. idc about winning or losing but if I had fun it's fine. Like sometimes when I play people like awesmic if I get one round then I cream my pants and i'm happy.
TBH you can't really tell how good someone is online due to it being an environment of bullshit, however you can tell when someone is trying to play legit as opposed to trying to scum you with mashing. If mashing is working against you offline, then its your defense that's the problem. Nothing that happens online matters in comparison.
Good luck with the training KokobaeBeAKilla. Feel free to ask Rev or myself if you need anymore assistance with the game. I'm currently working on an advanced guide to go over the more intricacies of DOA5's combat systems.
People mash online because they don't know how to play properly, or don't give a shit. It doesn't represent how the game is played properly. If you lose due to mashing offline, then your defense was the issue. Also good luck Koko!