Ever play poker? If you have a strong hand, it is not wise to let anyone know so. Life is a bit like that. By trying to display strength, you will set yourself up as more of a target. In situations like this, the best advice i can give you is to remain quiet. Keep a steady gaze, but say nothing. This gives this jerk nothing to guage you by. If he cant get a strong picture of what you are feeling, he cant know what to expect. You are always more wary of the unknown.
I am shameless in using whatever analogies best explain my point so to give a fictional example: Be Clint Eastwood in Fistfull of Dollars, not Joe Pesci in Goodfellas

Just be yourself, spend more time observing others than changing what others see of you. You dont need to swear and swagger about to punch someone hard in the face if you need to.

Back in highschool I use to run into this kind of crap all the time. On my way to the wrestling room after school I would pass all the "jocks" and they would always stare me down(I am 5'7). I just learned that I need to stare back and keep my head up. Now in college years later, when I pass those same types of guys I gaze at them first. When they see me they either smile or look down/away. I just learned the pre-emptive stare now.
When I walk around campus I kinda do it for fun now, its amazing how many people walk around with their heads somewhat down. I am also alot bigger now.

Food for thought. (Back in highschool)
Freshman year my friend was 5'11 and weighed about 150. He walked pigeon toed and his middle name was Lindsey.(Pathetic right?) He got so sick of being picked on that he started wrestling softmore year and tought himself not to walk pigeon toed. By senior year he gained about 45 lbs and wrestled in the 189 division, winning almost every match and taking home division titles in greco and freestyle. Now he is 210 and hella swollz. No one would think of messing with him these days. This is what happens to people who get picked on, for all you people who pick on people

Hmmmmmm... guys like these pick on what they think are weaker than they are just for the ego boost. I've seen one, encountered one, shutted him up (didn't get to fight with him, but that just shows how "all talk" he is).

Maybe try to ask him why. Ask him why he wants to pick a fight with you, why no one else? Tell him if he knows boxing and stuff, shouldn't he go for the better, more powerful opponents than yourself for a better challenge (pretend you don't know MA). If he still persists, then get the teachers and stuff involved. If he still persists, ask him to p**s off and to shut up about the whole thing. And if he starts getting physical, then next paragraph...

He does boxing right? Well naturally you would aim for the legs and the balls, but that is it. Do not go close range with him, ever. Keep using side kicks and front kicks to push him back (and hopefully crack some nice damage at him) and always aim for the vital spots. Crack a few shots to his ankles and knee joints if you want to hinder his movement and to give him some pain, but finish it fast. If you're very good at timing, if he tries charging at you, the moment he is about to, front kick his shin to stop his step in. Whatever it is, you must keep it at long kicking range, never close.

Well, I'd recommend you talk it out with him and ask him for the reasons. Only follow the fighting advice if he starts the fight and starts getting physical with you.

That's all, hope this helps.

I had a little problem like this in school. This guy, lets just call him 'SS' had a bit of a reputation with people at our school - he had beaten up a few weaker and younger guys. however it used to really annoy him when people used to say to him "I bet you could not beat up Charlie" (we were in the same year) so he would always want to fight me.

I had a reputation of being a good laugh and a good martial artist (i only did karate at that time) he would always pass messages through people saying that he wants a fight blah, blah, etc... but i would not fight him....unless he went for me that is.

my dad (karate/jujutsu BB) gave me some really good advice when i told him about it - he said if he confronts you say "look SS, i do not want to fight you.....but if we do i promise i will not mess around"! and then just walk off even if he said anything in return - this will cast doubt in his mind even if he does not show it.

in other words it's your choice but you will come worse off.

So i never had to self premote myself like SS did or like your guy because other people did it for me - which is the best way. it has always been the way 'right or wrong' that if poeple know you do martial arts it adds an air of mystery to you.

so if i were you it's not a bad thing in your case to allow poeple to know what you do, tell friends and allow the word to get to him that you are a martial artist - don't say what style or your grade but just that you do MA's and then you can go on being a man of peace and just stay quiet and avoid fighting.

as it goes when i go back to the area i grew up in i often see people who were part of the 'cool crowd' and you should see them now!! over weight/unfit/no-life and grumpy - so the worm has turned! when i saw SS it was no different...i just smiled to myself.

my dad also said that a big/tall guy automatically gains respect with people.....a small guy has to earn it. (we are both about 5f 8/9.

just a final piece of advice - if i were you i would cross train in jujutsu and that's coming from someone who does Tae Kwon Do (ITF).

charlie.

www.lonepineryu.co.uk
www.impactfitnesstrainers.net

Boxing schools raise people like thats it awefull in my opionon... we have a school down here in a pretty bad nieghboorhood and theres alot of people that go there and then they just go around around and pick fights iwht people because they recieved training from this guy. I think i might walk down there in a few weeks and talk to the intructor, drop a few names of people abusing it.