Let's compare shooting (single leg, or double legs) and face to face throw (foot sweep, front cut, inner hook, outer hook, leg spring, ...).
When you shoot,
- Your opponent has 2 free arms.
- Your head is fully exposed for punching.
When you use face to face throw,
- You use your arms to deal with your opponent's arms (your opponent doesn't have free arms). You then use one of your leg to deal with one of your opponent's legs.
- Your head is not exposed for punching.
In the following "inner hook" example, you use
- left hand to control your opponent's right arm.
- right hand to push on his neck (this will block his left arm attack).
- right leg to hook your opponent's left leg.
When you apply this throw, you will have less chance to be punched on your head than when you shoot.