As I said, simply touching another person would be considered assault. Zimmerman didn’t have to throw a punch or anything to be considered at fault.
As I said, if a random person, who does not identify himself, comes up to me and even touches me on the shoulder and asking questions, seemingly without reason, I am going to be concerned for my safety as there would be no reason for anybody else to be doing that. as far as I know in that situation.
If I tried to walk away and that person tries to stop me, as far as I know, because I don’t know who this guy is, my life is in danger and I am going to act under that assumption.
Let's try that again:
Beyond that, Zimmerman could have lost his "self-defense" argument under Florida law even if he didn't initiate physical contact. First, because Assault is defined under Florida law as "unlawful threat by word or act to do violence to the person of another, coupled with an apparent ability to do so, and doing some act which creates a well-founded fear in such other person that such violence is imminent." You can commit assault without making physical contact.
Also, as I mentioned above, you can lose your "self-defense" defense even if you don't commit a crime, if you "provoke" the use of force against yourself.