I start playing some DOA3.1 (Today I was messing around with 3.2 a bit honestly), and what's supposed to be a 5 min test turns out to be a 2 hour game session. Although I don't have any offline competition anymore (Thanks a lot Erik), I just bulled around in survival as the AI is too stupid for story mode. Also, 3.2 is a bit more fun against the AI as Hayate's against a wall isn't broken 100% of the time haha.
You pretty much have to know he's going to throw you. You literally have to press the moment his hands are put on you, where as in open space you have until the time he starts twisting his arms. It's the same system as DOA4 in that regard.