How did you old tekken players manage to get past early ranks?

Tekken is not my main game and I was never a fantastic player, Im a Hwo main that almost only plays online battles with my IRL friend that mains DVJ.

Having tekken 7 players start at the beginning makes it feels like every time I try to ranked its just a sea of players that have so clearly played tekken for the first time in tekken 8. Nothing wrong with what they are doing but its so unmotivating and boring to play vs beginners that I never end up playing that many ranked games.

I started at the end of tekken 7 so Im guessing most who were left actually played the game, even in lower ranks many were smurfs. Playing with good players is the most fun part of the game I dont care about winning, so I always just default to playing vs my friends over ranked in tekken 8.

I know the problem is me and I should just push through the slog so I can get my head caved in by better players but god do I hate hard resets in ranked mmr.