The best defense is obviously to be out of striking range.
One of the reasons that Uechi Ryu is so effective is that the Sanchin hand position is a very strong position to be in. It's both very defensive and very offensive. And to the untrained eye looks like "oh I'm scared" or "I don't want to fight". Yet allows one who knows what their doing to take control of a situation.
I mention this as it gives you distance, yet allows you to jab, grab, punch, kick etc.
Now Liondancer is right in that if someone is less than 4 or 5 feet from you the are close enough to ambush you with a tackle, a kick, etc. So as with anything it really depends on the situation, and how much you know and how good you are.
I for one tend to be a lot more on guard when folks are inside or approaching my "safe zone" which is about 6 or 7 feet. For me that's the range I can strike if needed and feel like I can also limit the odds of someone getting a good strike.
As for the original question. Be aware of your situation. Blind spots are not good things. And you have to be more on guard as I just described. I guess it's one reason I hate malls and crowds. And it's why I try to avoid silly petty things like what you describe.
As for looking at people funny you really shouldn't do that. I know it happens but if you don't know someone just be cool and friendly. And if you do still do that.
And if someone attacked you at a mall you should have called security or the cops.
They do it some in St Louis and its called the "knock out game" and has spread to other cities some and there have been some deaths as a result of it. Most of the perpetrators, but not all, are black inner city youth who are trying to prove their toughness by going up and taking a swing on an unsuspecting person and seeing if they can knock them out.
A couple of things you can do which I have mentioned before in this forum are the following. Be and stay aware of your surroundings and those people around you. This along with some other things is really your first line of defense. Avoid areas, especially at night, or don't go there by yourself or when you have been drinking. I avoid ridding my motorcycle through certain areas at night for instance just because of the higher incidence of crime in them. Its pretty hard to defend yourself while straddling an expensive motorcycle that weighs several hundred pounds while someone tries to take your wallet or rob you while you are stopped at a stop sign or stop light. So employ and use some common sense.
Be especially aware of those in close proximity to you and I set that distance at anywhere as close as ten feet to fifty feet. I have caught one guy or a small group before trying to set me up maybe and been able to avoid the situation entirely because I took some kind of evasive action like crossed the street or gave them some distance as we passed one another or walked into a store or shop and waited for them to pass. In two such cases they actually robbed someone else down the street then and make sure you keep your eyes on them and look for those situations where you are vulnerable and avoid them and try not to leave anything to chance.
I never take my eyes off of people who I suspect might be up to no good and I also give myself distance between myself and them so that I have time to react and I do as much as I can to avoid making myself vulnerable to them in anyway. That is your first and best line of defense.
Yup, and more than likely you will buy that sucker punch. Anybody who says that you can avoid it is lying. That's why guerilla warefare is so effective. The best warriors will be buying at least a few hits in an ambush before they have time to get it together enough to fight back. Ask any soldier who spent time on the front line how they defend against an ambush. The whole purpose of an ambush is that you don't see it coming until it is too late and many good soldiers lose their lives that way. Doesn't make them bad soldiers by any means.
Edit: What's with the thumb down? You guys really think putting your hands out in front of you to calm down a guy who is intent on hitting you in the back of the head while exiting the mall will work if the guy is coming from behind or the side at best? You might see it coming if you are the only person exiting the mall but probably not if there are other people exiting with you. Consider the environment too.
Keep your distance, always pay attention and keep an eye on him or his friends.listen to your surronding
Learn to keep you mind and heart in the NIV and learn not to say certain things because if you a'lot of Karma starts with the mouth is especially for the most irratating of all.
I want to know how not to get hit by one of these. Every fight is different and the most dangerous are the ones where your opponent hits you without a verbal rant and there IS no fight. I'm scared of this more than when the opponent pushes and shoves you before winding up to hit you because you have time to prepare. There have actually been deaths because a person decides to hit you while you are off guard and have no time to flinch. I don't want to die. Please answer my question if you can.
To see what I mean, I'll put it in a scenario. Let's say this dude caught you looking at his friend funny in the mall. He waits patiently outside the mall while you look at clothes for a birthday and then when you exit he punches you in the head. That's all. No fight.
