Honestly I was more interested in a piece of ass I was following out the door lol. I felt like they didn't know what they were up against. I know the extent of my abilities but I also have a mean streak that can come out when I need it to. I'm from a fairly rough blue collar place and was in my share of fights, basically had a pretty violent upbringing. These guys were idiots at a bar in Austin. Not actual tough guys. It wasn't worth it and I was only going to fight if I had to but I realize the biggest weapons in street fights are: 1) surprise and 2) the actual willingness to do physical harm. Skill and strategy follow those IMO. I knew they were trying to set me up, but they didn't know I knew it, so I had the element of surprise, and I was more than willing to do as much physical harm as possible to deal with the situation. I got laid that night so it ended well haha.
I had a much scarier situation in 2005 in Mexico City. Fucking scary. My wife (at the time) was pregnant, and we were on vacation before our first kid. I saw three young tough looking guys casing us on the subway. I told her something was up. At our stop the doors opened and we waited for a minute to get off, and they waited until we got off. Again I tried to look like I didn't know what was going on. I told my wife to watch and tell me what was going on. They split up, two went up the steps and around a corner, the last who seemed like the leader stayed behind and started walking behind us. Mean looking kid. But he fucked up by getting split up. I turned on him and got right in his face. I asked him what's up in Spanish, he didn't answer and I yelled it at him. I have a good amount of kickboxing experience and hogh level karate, and I also know a good amount of very effective dirty tricks, and I was confident I could blast him and end his night in a couple of seconds. I was definitely worried about weapons but we were in hand to hand range, so I felt if he made a move I'd be on him before he could do anything. He was flat out shocked that I saw the trap and just came right up to him.
It bought us some time, he backed up, we got back on the train and the doors shut at that very second, and we got the fuck out of there.
Funny thing is I was probably more nervous at the bar situation. I think probably because it wasn't life or death, and I wasn't protecting my pregnant wife. The Mexico thing I was ready to kill or die. It's a strange feeling. Terrifying situation and I wasn't really scared at all.
It's really weird because I never get scared when I SHOULD. Hope it doesn't bite me in the ass one day.
Your situational awareness appears to be top notch. That is the biggest thing for me in a self defense situation. You referred to it as surprise, and I agree with you. They both go hand in hand. If you're surprised then your situational awareness was in a state of being unaware, and unprepared. So your situational awareness was low.
Story time:
I was downtown, and we were out with some girls. I think a group of four. We're on foot, walking. I'm never in a state of being unaware, and unprepared. I'm always eye sweeping a place to include people, activities, waistlines, entrances, exits, etc.
Anyways we're walking, and the girls are laughing, and carrying on. They aren't too much paying attention to their surroundings. I notice a guy approaching from a dark lot to our right, with no lighting. The stretch we are on is dimly lit as a whole as some of the lights are flickering or completely out. He sees us and walks intently in our direction, dark clothes, face down relatively hard to notice unless you're looking (as I was out the corner of my eye).
Everyone is still laughing, and I find it strange observing his approach, he is walking towards us as if he wants to intercept us. I am on the sidewalk by the side closest to the street to keep space between my date and any vehicles that may pass. He is moving a bit faster, I grab her and pull her to the other side of me, putting me on the side closest to the guy. I then grab at my waistline. He sees this, stops and changes his direction to walk away from us.
My date starts flipping out, like "why are you grabbing me like that?" I explain to her the situation and everything I saw. She says "you could've told me, instead of grabbing me." lol I told her if I tried to explain to her we probably wouldn't be having this conversation right now, and instead would have been trying to negotiate with our wallets, purses, and maybe even lives.
The situation unfolded in a manner of seconds. That is that surprise element you discussed. Once the guy determined he couldn't get the drop, he disengaged. Can we for sure know he was an assailant? No, but I picked up on his mannerisms, observed the situation, and reacted which potentially defended us all from a rough night.
That surprise and situational awareness played the biggest parts for his offensive, and my defensive tactics. If he had been trying to mug us my martial arts skills would have been greatly hindered if not useless had he got the drop on us, presumably with a weapon. Even having a weapon on me I would have been trying to play catch up and potentially made the situation deadlier trying to react.
I like your tactics. You became the hunter, and not the hunted in that Mexico City situation. Your counter was legit! Hope you never have to respond that way again. Stay safe out there.