You can get 'in the face' of someone taller than you; it just looks retarded, is all.
I know he wouldn't act that way, but it was a fight between me and him in a cafiteria; how likely is that to happen?
It's main point was that unless he started the fight prepared, my habit of escalating faster than everyone else would mean I win. Of course, he's normally too nice a guy to be physically violent anyway; fond (and vocal) reminiscing of 'Self Defence' classes with him always brings a smile.