You can also actually pull them behind you with back+shove, so you can go in a corner and then switch places with them to trap them there, then maybe use the fatigue system to make them slower. The dodge button also works differently depending on up/down direction, it's like a block that protects you from 2 directions of attack in one stance, If you want some next level shenanigans.
I don't play against the AI, though, so I don't have much input regarding that.