Originally Posted by PappaG

Well said Efrem!

Regardind the actual story. Having the seat reclined during take-off was putting your and your seatmate's life at risk. You should have told him to raise the seat then or called a F/A.

But just as you don't want the one sitting behind you to disturb you, you shouldn't disturb the one in front of you. Getting up by holding the seat in front of you, putting your knees at the back of the seat, or kicking, are all things that can be pretty obnoxious. So don't do them.
The man probably could have told you in a better way, and you probably could behaved in a better way afterwards. So equally bad I'd say..