Hello I am looking for some technical information if anyone feels like sharing. I heard once that a throw requires 3 points of contact. From the limited number of throw I know this would seem to be true. Has anyone heard of this 'rule'? Are there exceptions? Any help would be great
In theory, 2 points contact is enough. You - push your opponent's head/neck/shoulder down, and - sweep/spring/hook his leg up. The problem is your opponent also has 2 free arms. When you push his head/neck/shoulder down, his arms will give you some trouble. This is why you will need the 3rd contact point to disable his "leading arm". For example, you - wrap and pull your opponent's leading arm, - push his head/neck/shoulder, - sweep/spring/hook his leg. That will make 3 points contact. Example of 2 points contact throw are: 1. single leg - push shoulder, pull leg (use 2 hands). 2. foot sweep - push neck down, sweep leg up (use 1 hand and 1 leg). 3. shoulder strike - leg control, shoulder strike (use 1 leg and 1 shoulder). 4. ... Example of 3 points contact throw are: 1. hip throw - leading arm pull, waist lift, hip strike (use 2 hands and hip). 2. leg lift - leading arm pull, back arm under hook lift, back upper thigh lift (use 2 hands and 1 leg). 3. twist and spring - leading arm pull, neck push, back leg spring (use 2 hands and 1 leg). 4. ...
I don't know if your classification of "throw" is the same as mine, but it is possible to foot sweep a person with just the one point of contact, foot against foot. Deashi-barai with no hand contact. Simple, not easy.
You don't need 3 points of contact, it's just generally speaking, more points of contact mean more control.