i... i don't understand how can someone have more aptitude with spear than with sword... i learned martial arts.. but damn spear/stick is much more harder than sword... if i have to rank weapon from the easiest to hardest then:
1. short sword/dagger
2. sword
3. long sword
4. knife
5. spear/staff
6. double stick/nunchaku
why dagger easier? it's much more like using your hand, so it's easier to control, also the distance is enough, and still can give you enough agility...
why sword easier? when sparing/or real fight, most people will likely try to hit your weapon/sword instead of your body so it's easier to counter or make a feint, the range is also good, but if your enemy excel at CQC then be careful.
why long sword easier? it's mid range attack, as long as you don't make mistake and can control distance and position, you can hold the fight.
why knife is easier? it's simple and easy to use, the hard part is to keep close distance, while our nature is to keep distance against enemy not to close the distance.
spear/staff? it's nightmare, one wrong move and you are defeated by your own move not by enemy, also it's hard to fight against nimble and agile enemy, there's also a chance your staff is grabbed by enemy which basically render your weapon useless.
nunchaku? the timing is hard, sure enemy will find hard time closing his distance, but if he can find the correct timing or make a perfect feint... oh boy you're done.
those my experience are from sparing, not real fight against gang/killer or smt like that... ofc soldier will know better than me