At What Point?

Just saw this video posted and it contains some interesting items. Although poor quality, I think it shows some excellent behavior indicators we talk about.

http://broadbandsports.com/node/29230

The question which is the title of this post is: At what point do you, the target, decide it's 'Go time'? The guy in the white shirt starts showing predatory and aggressive body language almost right from the start. No need to listen to words spoken (the video doesn't pick them up anyway), just look at what his whole body is saying.

Say you are the guy in the red shorts. Do you decide when he is tracking and stalking you that this guy is a real threat? Do you do it when he raises what appears to be a weapon and puts it in your face? I have a hard time telling, but it could be a small pistol or an object which looks like one. Do you wait to find out for sure? Do you take action when the thug grabs or shoves you?

The target decides to wait until later, and gets the better of his attacker but take notice of the situation. He shifts momentum in his favor not by skill or swift action, but because he has the time to do it. It also appears the aggressor was more bark than bite. Perhaps he felt being big and having a weapon was enough to not worry about his target fighting back. Also notice the victim had friends around and the thug didn't.

My guess is that if the guy in the white shirt was a gang member or just a self-appointed street tough, he was probably a noob who learned a couple of big lessons from that engagement. More than likely, he won't need to learn them twice. He may not be the brightest bulb on the tree, but he probably will be quick to make sure next time that he has more friends on hand than his target and will be taking the first shot.

I digress a bit. What stood out to me so clearly was the stalking, tracking, puffing up, and (evidently) weapon display which made it clear he meant trouble. From the target's perspective, notice the fence he kept putting up and the aggressor moved through. I'm quite certain none of us would wait around as long as red trunks guy did to change the aggressor's mind about pushing the issue.

It is a good thing when these behaviors are known and understood so we can spot them and, should we need to, articulate them.

The other thing I noticed is how long the big fella keeps grasping on. There are several points he could allow red shorts guy to disengage, but he keeps holding on. Perhaps he realizes if he lets go he might get the soccer treatment. Lesson for my mind: Be ready to keep 'guns on' until it is over and the dust has started to settle. It ain't over 'till it's over.