Free Step Dodge

If they block and you hit their guard with an attack, you are able to move that number of frames before the opponent can. Example: You use Akiras 214P. Opponent blocks, leaving you at +1. You can move 1 frame before they can.

For reference, there are 60 frames in one second, meaning you can move one-sixtieth of a second before they can.

Brute summed it up pretty reasonably. In general for frame data, it's a game of math where both players start at +0 (Neutral advantage) until someone makes an action that either leaves them at +frames or -frames. However, players neutral poke speeds do change up this advantage. Eg. Helena has an i11 jab, i12 elbow & i14 low jab. She will beat out a character with slower neutral speeds like Bass or Tengu.

Unique to DOA is a quirk where it takes 2 addition frames to punish someone with a strike and 1 addition frame to punish someone with a throw. I.e. -8 on block can be punish with an i7 throw & -12 on block can be punished with an i10 jab.

Im still confused a bit, sorry guys.

+ Frames = Good. - Frames = Bad.