I think a big point here, is that you recognized that the rooster was going to be trouble long before he attacked you, or even puffed up. .............
The biggest tipoff in my case was this rooster didn't crow much during the day but in the weeks prior to the attack when I got around the chicken yard he became aggitated and crowed constantly. If I were inside the chicken yard he'd pace & stalk to within about 10 ft, face me and crow AT ME. Whereas the other 4 roosters I own remain relaxed and ignore me when I enter their areas.