Thank you @josemalavem for being here again. Jack did not think he was doing anything special, but not having been exposed to these kinds of situation in the past, and being of a mathematical turn of mind, he had to quickly figure out how to get out of quagmire with which he inadvertently got himself involved. Refusing to respond violently to a violent situation threw his opponents into a state of confusion and perhaps, fear. Before they could recover from the confusion of his unforeseen behaviour, Jack had wriggled out of the situation unscathed.

Yes, you are right: the likes of Jack are scarce in these present times.