Intimidation?

What is intimidation? I sometimes get intimidated by certain people in the street, and I have no idea why, and have absoloutely no control over it.

Is it a sign of fear, or maybe anticipation of a confrontation? I ask this because I dont understand why I get intimidated by the people I do, people I'm not even scared of, that if it came down to it I know I would overpower them.

I can walk past the biggest guy you can find in the street and not be intimidated one bit, but I walk past the small mouthy types and it's different. What's up with that?

At time, when someone has started with me, I have hit them and from then on have been left alone by them, but am still intimidated by them. I don't understand why this is.

This is my biggest problem now and I feel is what is holding me back in being able to stand up to people.

Anybody know what my problem is, how to overcome or have similar problems they would like to share?

It's strange, I have some students who I know, just don't take danger in the real world seriously.
They take unnecessarily dangerous short cuts, drink in rough pubs / clubs and dress in a way that would hinder their self protection.

On the other hand, it seems as though there are people who take it too far. You can't go through life scanning everyone you pass in the street and assessing them for their threat level. Not on a conscious level anyway. Your subconscious will do that for you. You'll walk past thousands of people a day who have no interest in you.

Stay out of the rough bars, choose sensible routes, wear decent footwear, don't get shit faced and put the work in to your training and try and find a way of believing that most people are decent and mean you no harm.

I avoid rough places if I can. Rough bars are a no-go. There are plenty of others to choose from. If I go up town theres pretty much a bar every street or two away, wherever you are.

I'll only go down a dark alleyway if I have my dog with me, he's big and intimidating and is always on the lookout so if there is anyone about he'll notice them well before I do and he'll focus all his attention on them. Also if I can see the other end of it I'll pass through, otherwise I just take the extra few minutes to go the long way round.