Unless you're looking to initiate a homoerotic encounter you have zero business allowing a man to get in your face, waving his hand and fingers around in your face so he can desensitize your reaction to when he swings on you
Nahh take a step back ... They take a step in, hit them
You're not in a verbal communication at that point. No matter how much they are talking in that moment this is merely a soundtrack, it is of no meaning and you are not meant to connect with it - you're not going to diffuse the angry man waving his hands around, he's already being showy in his gestures because he wants to be make a scene. You don't let him make the scene, you cast him for your role instead
Take a step back, your eyes focused on their clavicle... They take a step in, that's an act of aggression ...HIT THEM!
Don't wait. Hit them. No big wind up, no big swing ... This is like little league, just put it over the plate and they aren't going to hit it, he has no skill, he doesn't put no time in the gym and hasn't thrown a punch combination in the previous decade. You don't gotta be Tyson or Deontay Wilder here, throw a sharp straight right down the middle. If you can't put some heat on it make sure you got the other hand ready to follow right behind it
You're scared? Good. Hit them!
It's like that adage about playing stupid games
Oh you were trying to scare me ... Strike me fear in me? Good, you succeeded and earned yourself a punch to the face. You just got pieced up by a 150 pound man wearing oxfords. Live with that
They wanna escalate further, send them to the cemetery