How do you get good with the Katars?

I've been trying to get the hang of them but really it's just impossible, Especially in any regular mode of gameplay were there is many players around you all trying to kill you at once. Blocking successfully takes away too much stamina to attack with a special attack right after, Special attacks are the only way to really do any damage and stager the enemy. Any other attack does little damage and doesn't stager the enemy. Frankly anyone who uses these successfully scares me.