My character had to step closer to reach your character's body with the spear, so the point is only just in range of him, when your character avoids the spear he then pulls his spear back ready for another strike (this is the point where your kick would miss, because you're essentially racing the point of a spear which is incredibly quick) and moves in close to make up the distance your character makes by backflipping. 

It's less my characters arms that need to be fast and rather the very end of a spear, which is incredibly quick.