Be carefull with leaning. It may be all fine and dandy when you're doing your form, or other solo stuff, but once in tuishou leaning will probably get you pulled if the other guy is good. Also, in sanshou, leaning is a great way to get them to think "I'm tired of holding you up" and have them empty where your pressure is and throw you right down to the ground. And because you had that forward movement from leaning, you hit even harder than if you weren't.
I'm sure you can find a way to lean in your practice and stay internally connected, but I just can't imagine making contact with someone while leaning. It's just too risky. (not that I don't lean ever. I really need to fix that )
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on throwing...
Many people here are saying they want to put them out, seriously,if they are in a situation like that. If you know how to throw someone, and land them on their kidney or back (assuming they don't know how to fall) that will hurt them sufficiently to give you enough time to get away. You don't always have to square off and have the dramatic,Thunderdome kung-fu death-match.
On the other hand, I personally wouldn't try for a throw. I would use strikes or knee kicks and all that stuff, mainly because I'm smaller.
"Duifang jing zhi meng ji, wo fang tui zhi ce fang xi zhi."