The Benefits of Investing in Commodities through Exchange Traded Funds (ETF’s)

The Benefits of Investing in Commodities through Exchange Traded Funds (ETF’s)

Source: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/

Part of my purpose in life is to help others.  I think, even if I don’t gain from helping others, it is still worth it.  I help others because God helps me and that I must decrease and He must increase.  Anyone with good intentions and willing to learn should help others.

That said, I think there are many benefits in investing in commodities through exchange traded funds (ETF’s).  I’m glad investors have options to invest in ETF’s.  It gives them an opportunity to diversify and it is much more feasible.  Imagine buying physical gold or silver and choosing to sell at a local pawn shop.  The money you get will not even be close to the market value.  But on ETF’s, the buying price and the selling price are closely matched.  It is also safer.  Having actual commodities on hand might require additional security.  Having stocks in a fund that holds them don’t. 

Here are some additional reasons why investors (and people should invest) in commodities:

1) Beats inflation

A dollar back in the 1980 is not the same buck as it is today.  In fact it is worth $2.87 in 2014 (Source: http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=1&year1=1980&year2=2014).  Every year, there is about a 3% inflation rate.  That means the money we have in savings and banks, which generate hardly any interest, is decreasing in value.  You lose money if you don’t spend it or invest it.  Especially with the Federal Reserve pumping $50 billion dollars per month into the money supply.

The price of everything is going up, however, if you invest your money, which is not backed by anything of value (fiat currency), into something of value, such as oil, gold, silver, something tangible, then that commodity, along with other factors, will be pegged to inflation.  

One concept many people don’t realize is there are two ways the government can generate revenue.  One is to raise taxes, a highly visible and unpopular method.  The other is to increase the inflation rate through the Federal Reserve, a stealthier and less noticeable approach.  Both results in a decrease in buying power.  

2) Commodities will always have value / won’t go bankrupt / safer than companies

My personal opinion is this: That no matter how much each of us researches on a company, which is time-consuming in itself, we will never know everything about a company because we are not insiders.  At any given time, a seemingly healthy company, although unlikely, may go bankrupt.  The accounting arm may cook their books.  There are numerous ways a company can do to give an impression that it is strong.  I’m not saying don’t invest in companies; there is a proper way to do so.  

Commodities, on the other hand, won’t go bankrupt.  Since the company is the commodity itself, it will never go out of business.  Well, unless people decide all of a sudden that gold is worthless, but that is probably not going to happen.  Commodities will always have value.  Oil is needed to run the engines of modern society.  Gold and silver, which is not only valuable since ancient times, are needed in various industrial applications.  People need to eat; Wheat will always have value.  Investing in commodities is much safer than investing in companies and it can also generate great returns if invested wisely.

Investing in commodities is also better than gambling.  I don’t really see it as gambling in the traditional sense because commodities will always have value and its value will always be adjusted for inflation.  I see it as another bank account, although more volatile.  And even if you “lose” in this gamble, you don’t really lose much.  If a person gambles in Vegas and lose, for example, that person will probably lose all their investment and the odds are for the house.  But if you “lose” in commodities, which is just buying at its peak, you probably will still retain 80% or 70% of its value.  Stupid people invest in lotteries and casinos.  Smart people invest in stocks and commodities.  

My picks for commodities

The adage “buy low and sell high” rings true in commodities.  It is poor advice for company shares because a company that does poorly will tend to do poorly while the company that tends to do well will continue to do well.  

In general, since we don’t know the times (only God knows), the best time to buy any commodity is when it’s at its low.  And the lower the commodity gets, the more you should buy.  Don’t sell out, don’t bail out!  If it’s at its lowest historical point, it is buy buy buy.  Be patient.  Eventually, the commodity will recover and you will get the returns.  Remember, commodities will never go bankrupt.  

With that said, these are my choices for the beginning of 2015:

Source: http://businessdayghana.com

1) Oil

Principle ETF: USO (United States Oil Fund)

Expense ratio: 0.45%

Average monthly volume: 24.7 million

(Source: http://etfdb.com/etf/USO) 

Oil is now at or near historical lows.  It was more than $100 a barrel in 2011 but that is now halved. A reason for the decrease in oil prices is competition from oil shale companies.  OPEC recently decided to decrease the price of oil in an attempt to drive those shale companies, many which is based in these U.S. states, out of business.  It costs more to get oil from shale then from petroleum.

Source: http://d.ibtimes.co.uk

2) Gold and silver

Principle ETF for Gold: IAU (COMEX Gold Trust)

Expense ratio: 0.25%

Average monthly volume: 5.6 million

(Source: http://etfdb.com/etf/IAU/)

Principle ETF for Silver: SLV (Silver Trust)

Expense ratio: 0.50%

Average monthly volume: 8.7 million

(Source: http://etfdb.com/etf/SLV/)

Gold and silver have both seen a recent decrease in prices from its peak in 2011.  Traditionally, people invest in precious metals when they feel that the national economy or the financial systems of the government is poor or unsafe.  With inflation at 3% a year, our high US national debt, and our USD currency no longer backed by gold or silver, gold and silver will generally continue to increase.

Figure 1: Historical Graph of Gold

Source: http://goldprice.org/gold-price-history.html

Source: http://griles.files.wordpress.com

3) Your eternal future

I saved the best for last.  The best investment anyone can make is for their eternal future.  Let me ask you this question: If you were to die today, where would you go?  Heaven or hell?  In the long-run, these investments are nothing.  We will be walking on streets of gold.  We won’t need oil to move around.  You say science can’t prove the Bible, well, your intuition can.  Science can only measure three-dimensional space (or if you include thoughts, feelings, psychology, then four).  God exists in more dimensions (some say seven) because he is omnipotent, omniscient, and omni-everything.  He exists outside of time.  Just because science can’t prove Him doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist.  In fact, he prefers it that way, for without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).  You can’t put God on a chart.  So test and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).  You will find that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the true God and the God who loves us.

10/12/2014: The Path of Grace 恩典之路- Song Review

10/12/2014: The Path of Grace  恩典之路- Song Review

These songs save my life.

Partially, my path of grace is like my path in Kuwait.  I first heard this song after I brought the then-complete SOP music collection from my leave to Taiwan in August 2010.  This song demonstrates the pain and struggle I feel but also hope and the feeling that I’m learning from my tribulations.  I would listen to this song on the bus, at night before sleep, and when I am walking or running around the track.  Going around the track at night, my typical time for exercise in Kuwait, flows with the mysterious hope in this song.  Where I walk or jog is in darkness but I am on the path of grace.

-

恩典之路 The Path of Grace

祢是我的主

引我走正義路

高山或低谷

都是祢在保護

萬人中唯獨

祢愛我認識我

永遠不變的應許

這一生都是祝福

一步又一步

這是恩典之路

祢愛 祢手

將我緊緊抓住

一步又一步

這是盼望之路

祢愛 祢手

牽引我走這人生路

http://clyp.it/u0unodg1

The Beta-Alpha Male

4 October 2014: The Beta-Alpha Male

S: 2:52am

E: 3:48am

Maybe I’m right and what these “experienced” people or what the world is telling me is wrong.  The way of violence, the way of alpha male, the particular way that a man has to dress or wear.  They telling me that I have to do this because I’m a “man.”  “Man” is just a social construct. 

Their way is the way most of ------------------ went.  They drink, they get drunk, many drive.  They do reckless behaviors, they get into fights.  I know -------- that don’t make it, others that are hurt.  Is their way really the best way?  Are they true when they mock my way saying I’m inexperienced, too nervous, careful, wussy.  Is it wrong for me not to intervene in a deadly situation when my life may be at risk?  Yet, the establishment proves me to be right.  They told him to leave, ----------------------------. 

There are more than one right answer, and some are more right than others.  First, I lack the realization of what is going on.  I lack the knowledge.  I lack it because I chose to follow my way of peace, of safety.  Yet, to be well-rounded and as a future social worker, I try to learn from the other side.  To directly intervene, without authoritative help, would be folly.  I chose to quietly step inside and to calmly pray about it.  I did make a mistake though.  I only thought of informing the barkeep.  But, they knew quickly what was going on and they intervened. 

I prefer to be neutral outwardly.  Outwardly, it may seem I’m walking the fine line between good and evil.  I do this to protect myself, to stay out of trouble.  Prisoners who don’t get involved in other people’s disputes tend to save their own skin.  But inwardly?  That is the part people don’t see and the part that I strive to be.  Inwardly, I am good.  I fight, when I’m not overwhelmed, by praying and following my intuition and logic.  By social terms, I am the beta male.  I tend to fight indirectly, passive-aggressive style.  Knowing that the spirit is supreme, I fight in that realm.  I do not act on impulse but think carefully and logically.  I look at things honestly.  I am open to being with people different from me, like what happened today, and to learn from their strengths and weaknesses.  I am not totally good, not totally evil, but I learn from both and take the best of both.  But, I know that good is supreme because good is life and human beings have life. 

Maybe I am right all along.  Maybe being humble.  Maybe being single, saving money so I can help other people.  Maybe not chasing and wasting money on temporary pleasures but spending it instead on human welfare is the right thing to do.  I do have fun, but my type of fun is free. 

It’s okay if someone wants to be outwardly better than me.  It’s okay if I die tomorrow.  I am prepared for the worst because I should not worry about what happens tomorrow.  My influence is not the acute kind that gets people’s attention.  It could be, but my influence is more the chronic kind which makes slow but steady and long-lasting change. 

-

Add: A person quoted my professor saying that if I am not getting into trouble, then I am doing something wrong as a social worker.  He tells me that social workers fight for justice.  That I should not run and hide when trouble comes.  He tells me it is unethical.  I told him I was following the law.  He said forget the law. 

To respond, this argument is similar to the poem “the stronger wind, the stronger trees” and what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.  It assumes that if I am not struggling, or in this case, getting into trouble, then I am doing something wrong.  In a viewpoint, the person is correct.  What allows life to grow is struggle.  To fight for truth and justice may require me to be in trouble.  But a fallacy he had is the assumption that I should always get into trouble.  Always getting into trouble will get me killed.  I need to pick and prepare my “troubles” carefully, not just jump into any troubles.  Take calculated risks and not blind risks.  The trouble the person is assuming is troubles for a good cause, not the ones for evil. 

In that particular instance, I feel getting into that “trouble” is not a good idea.  A better solution is to notify the authorities.  I may even vouch against notifying the authorities because what I am doing may be considered snitching to the participants.  Another solution, in combination with others, is to pray.  Praying may lessen and prevent these evil acts in unseen ways.  This behavior is given that I do not know the participants and I do not really know what is going on.  How do I know what is going on?  By gaining experience.  How to gain experience?  By staying neutral. 

Deeper than staying neutral is being wise.  Knowing the end result in the outcome and choosing the best behavior to have the best outcome.  The outcome is not limited to just the event, but the history of humankind. 

How about the law?  Laws serve as guides for people in what to do in typical situations.  But in extraordinary circumstances, the law may need to be bent or broken for the greater good.  Also, since laws serve as a guide, if a person truly understands the purpose and function of a law, the person may have the right to break the law.  An example of this is jaywalking across a street.  The purpose of the law against jaywalking is to protect pedestrians from getting hit from cars in unauthorized crossing areas.  However, once a person understands the purpose of that law, and finds circumstances where the law doesn’t apply, he can break the law.  If the person crossing the street carefully looks both directions and sees no cars coming, for example, the person may cross the street without the fear of being hit by a vehicle.  The law is broken but the person is still safe.    

PS: Actually, sometimes I go indirect (passive-aggressive), other times I take a more direct approach.  I don’t really know myself.  More often than not though, I use an indirect approach.  An indirect approach is not bad.  I consider praying, empathy-response actions, acting wisely given the situation, to be indirect.  Most problems are too big to be solved directly at once.

2014.9.4 (Day 10)

2) 2014.9.4 (Day 10)

            I have already interviewed a resident here at Dismas.  I remember I was nervous when conducting my first PSA because it was my first time.  The monitor up front sensed my nervousness and said, “I'll give you a nice one.”  Needless to say, I did interview a nice resident.  Conducting a psycho-social interview is like listening to a person's life story.  There are many topics to cover such as family, physical health, spiritual health, education, law, and client strengths.  Each topic can have numerous subtopics.  For example, in the “education” category, I am also required to ask how the client is doing when he was in elementary school!  I still remember my elementary years but many of the residents, some older, might have trouble remembering.  The reason why we are required to go in detail and ask these questions is because what happens in a person's childhood can affect a person's psychological well-being in his/her adult life. 

            The resident I had is talkative.  I'm fortunate.  I heard of some residents who don't talk at all.  Listening to their life stories reminds me of my story.  I find our stories have similarities and differences.  I don't want to go in detail but I find, so far, that the reason my resident got in trouble is due to logical, make-sense reasons.  Reasons that, if we were under his situation, we might succumb to that, too.  I guess in life, there are a few “critical” life decision or junctions that would affect our lives tremendously.  Me joining the Army, for example, or me getting that stupid “D” grade in English class during my freshman year in high school.  That cost me my admission to a Cal-State University back then.  :(

            I also talked to my fellow interns on why they joined social work.  One of them gave his story.

            “What is your rank?” He asked me. 

            “I was a specialist,” I replied.

            One of my intern, F, was also in the Army.  He was a sergeant when he got out.  He said the reason why he went into social work is because he does the same thing in the Army.  He conducts home visits.  He checks his soldier's homes for safety.  He conducts financial counseling for his soldiers.  He advises his soldiers on how to spend and save money.  He does safety briefings with his soldiers as well.  When his soldiers go on leave, he is required to counsel them on safety issues.  He conducts urinalysis for his unit.  His MOS, like some in the Army (including me) is unrelated in what he does.  His MOS is a fueler, but he is a re-enlistment sergeant in his unit.  So, he also does some career advising and guidance for soldiers who are thinking about re-enlisting in the Army.  He also runs the Chemical, Biological, and Nuclear (CBN) training in his unit.  Change his MOS to “social work” and many of the tasks he does will be the same.  :)

            A sergeant from my unit once asked me why am I choosing not to re-enlist in the Army.  I told him I want to help people; to be a social worker.  He gave a gesture that shows “duh, what do you think you are doing now?”  I think if I were to be promoted to a sergeant, many of the soldiering-care tasks that F mentioned would also apply to me.  I might actually do some social work there.  :p  But, I know the Army, or the military in general, also has a social work MOS as well.  They are an officer.  I might consider working in the military.

8/31/2014: [Social Work] Intervention theories and my value-based intervention hypothesis (Work in progress)

8/31/2014: [Social Work] Intervention theories and my value-based intervention hypothesis (Work in progress)

S:11:09pm

E: 12:15am

As always, I might finish a day later, since it’s already 11pm.  There are a lot of things I can write about, including my experiences at Dismas.  However, to plan ahead and to establish a base for interventions, I want to begin to write and explore a list of possible social work interventions I can use to work with my clients or residents.

I want to start by saying I know little of interventions but that is one of the reasons why I am writing about them.  As a pre-social worker, I know more about therapeutic forces what to assess.  However, I have some ideas on what might work.

My professors tell us that in order to work effectively with clients, each of us must be using at least one theory.  Not using a theory is equivalent to going in blind.  One of the main theories touted by many of my professors is the cogitative-behavior theory.  It seems to be effective, thus, I will devote some time to study this theory more.  But, to give a pre-analysis of it, I feel it has some limitations.  This theory states that our thoughts cause our feelings and our feelings in turn cause our behavior.  So, the key is to change the way we think.  It is all a mind game. 

This approach may not work for me because I can see the truth.  It can be deceptive because the change in thinking may not be grounded in reality but instead only used to achieve a desired effect.  It may also suffer from an all-or-thing fallacy.

For example, if I tell myself that I can’t find a job because it’s all the economy’s fault, not my fault, the therapist may try to change my thinking into that I am responsible for my fate.  However, that is not really true.  The real answer why a person can’t find a job can be between internal and external factors, although many say that it lies more in the internal.  The 12% what happens to you and 88% how you respond to it.  But, it’s 88% and not 100%.  The economy may also play a factor, so is the supply and demand of certain jobs.  If I try to think to myself that I am completely responsible for my own fate, I am leaving out other factors and if I fail even when doing my best, the person may blame him/herself instead of looking at other possibilities. 

Experienced social workers or counselors may be laughing at me, but it’s ok.  I am still learning and the purpose of this discovery is to learn, both from my mistakes and the mistakes of others and to identify, partly through reason, the best method.

I think the military also tried to use a little CBT on me.  They try to drill soldiers into thinking something that is not completely true (or so I think) in reality, but thinking the way the Army wants you to think can make you a better soldier.  That’s why many soldiers tell me I should stop thinking so much and just follow orders.  If I do that, if I throw away my inquiry and questioning abilities and just adopt their way of thinking, I may be a better soldier, but I will compromise my value of logic and questioning. 

For example, in basic training, our drill sergeants or culture tell us that if we are not meeting the standards, then we are lazy and not doing our best or giving “110%.”  In a way, this type of thinking is good.  It forces soldiers to meet the standard because, if they meet it, they will feel good; they will feel that they are trying.  However, this way of thinking doesn’t work for weaker soldiers who may be doing their best but are still not reaching the Army expectations.  Frequently, and only the individual can testify, I done my best to adapt and reach the expectations.  However, I frequently fall short.  Other soldiers verbally attack me by telling me that I’m being lazy and not doing my best, when, in indignation, I might be trying harder than them.  They see the results more than the effort.  This way of thinking, that if you do your best, you will reach expectations, and that if you don’t reach it, then it’s your lack of willpower, doesn’t work for me because I did do my best and still couldn’t reach the expectations.  There are other reasons why soldiers can’t reach expectations besides the lack of effort.  Prior physical conditioning, street-smarts, the ability to adapt quickly to change, social skills, among others, also play a role. 

I do agree, however, that CBT can be effective, and in some of my experience, is effective.  If I keep telling myself something, I will tend to believe it.  However, this approach, and I only have a cursory knowledge of it, won’t be as effective for those who are broader in their thinking, who consider other factors as well.

--

The approach I am thinking that may work with my residents is more like a value-based approach.  I don’t really have a name for it but looking online, it kind of agrees with value clarification psychotherapy theory. 

Everyone has values and their internal motivation is based on them.  Interventions and approaches will be more effective if it agrees with what the client values.

Thus, finding what the resident or client value is the assessment.  Of course, since we live in similar environments, many of us may have similar values, such as independence, money, family, etc.  But, everyone can be different. 

Once we know what the client values, we can inquire what the client intends to do to further that value.  The social worker will then be like a second observer or advisor (I like to call it a second general) analyzing the client’s methods and objectives.  The end point is to establish a task or objective that benefits the person without harming other people (hopefully it may benefit others as well).  If the client gives an objective to a value that may hurt other people, the social worker can educate the client on the possible consequences as well as moral arguments (maybe). 

For example, if the resident values money and he/she says they want to a hitman to be rich, the social worker can point out the dangers of a hitman, the consequences of murder, how it may actually counter-act their goal of wanting to be rich (being arrested, prison time, death), as well as moral arguments such as the value of a human life.  The social worker can then give other socially-acceptable alternatives that will further the client’s goal of wealth, such as employment-search, education and job training, how to save money (financial responsibility- can tell the story of poor lottery winners), among others. 

This is a client-centered approach that drives on internal motivation as well as focusing on the strengths perspective.  Thus, the client will have a self-interest to accomplish their goals and objectives in a, hopefully, healthier way thanks to the advice of a social worker using this approach.

This also goes in-line with Sun Tzu’s Art of War in that if the client knows thyself and the task ahead (i.e. enemy), he or she will be 100% effective in accomplishing their life task(s). 

--

As I learn more intervention theories, I will be able to learn from others and develop, hopefully, more effective ways to help people.

Add: I probably have no idea what CBT is.  Forgive me; I am new.

My Internship at DC (Day 4)

* I am writing this log not only to fulfill a course requirement but for personal-enrichment as well.

1) Date: 8/28/2014 (Day 4) Start: 4pm

            I am, of course, still a new intern at Dismas Charities, having my orientation on Monday (8/25).  I learned many of the procedures, my tasks as an intern, and about Dismas during the orientation.  To be brief, as a student intern, I am required to see residents.  I do this by first conducting a psycho-social assessment on them.  Then, I identify three of the main problem areas the resident may have.  For each of the problem area, I am to have a goal.  Each goal will have three objectives and each objective three tasks.  The tasks need to be timed, measurable, and attainable.  Once approved, I can start seeing my client to get those goals and objectives met.  Interns are also required to conduct educational groups to teach the resident various transitional skills.  I feel I am more comfortable conducting groups than helping the individual on the PSA or treatment session because, for the education group, I already know the material to teach.  It is just a matter of disseminating the knowledge to the other residents.  I can use drawing out and cutting off techniques.  To compare with the individual PSA and treatment sessions, however, I am not the expert.  I have to ask questions to get information.  Well, being an intrapersonal person, I might be comfortable with both.  Now if the group session is about treatment, that would be much more challenging.

            Speaking of education groups, I heard that the residents in many of the sessions tend to be lacking in participation.  Many of the groups conducted tend to be quiet with only the teacher or group worker leading it.  If that is the case, I may not have to worry too much on cutting off, a technique that I may need more practice in.  I will have to use drawing out techniques such as rounds or activities to get everyone to participate.  I think passion is also an important factor.  If the residents see that I am passionate about what I’m teaching and genuine, they may pay more attention. 

            The gist of this entry, or what I want to write about, is the nature of Dismas and the residents.  I am told and taught that involuntary clients, especially offenders, can be the most difficult clients a social worker may encounter.  However, at Dismas, I believe an exception is made.  These residents at this halfway house, are almost out of prison and almost into mainstream society.  They are almost free.  Thus, many of them will behave like angels, on their best behavior, so they can have their dream of freedom.  They know that if they mess up, they will go back in prison.  This is unlike other correctional facilities, where its residents know they will not be freed anytime soon.  To be more philosophical, why can’t people, everyone in general, behave like angels all the time?  It is certainly possible for these federal offenders to behave nicely even though they are on their best behavior for a reason.  People should be on their best behavior because it is the right thing to do, not just to gain something.  But I know that people are naturally selfish, and many will only be nice if they can get Santa’s present.  To apply Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development, many of these residents are probably at a lower stage of moral development.  To many of them, their thinking is punitive.  It is about punishment and not the reward.  It is about the short-term and not about the long-term, not about karma, or anything like that.  Social workers, on the other hand..  ok, I won’t get to that.  But, people can be bad because there are no incentives to be good or to avoid negative consequences.   

            To look at myself, I am starting to be more selfish too, after finding out that being nice doesn’t really pay.  Nice guys do indeed finish last, but clever nice guys in heart can still finish first. 

            So right now, I’m doing a lot of theory and not a lot of practical.  I still have my manuals to read (each of them is like a textbook!).  I am pending approval for my PSA practice outline so once approved, I can start conducting PSA’s.

*Only unclassified material will be included.

Spear Fighting / The Way of the Spear

Spear Fighting / The Way of the Spear

S: 3:16am

E: 4:06am

Being a writer, I’m under a writer’s curse.  That is, when I think of something marvelous to write about, the desire to write within me burns.  It is now 3am in the morning and I’m having a fever, but I still want to write.  Actually, I feel, at least in the beginning states, having a fever increases a person’s intellectual ability.

Q: So what do you want to write about?

I’m a fan of military strategies and of weapons.  One of the weapons that fascinates me is the sword.  Oftentimes at night, I envision myself as an half-elven fighter dual-wielding swords to fight off evil. 

Q: Then why write about spear?

I find, after some thinking, that the spear is actually superior to the sword.  Sure, the sword looks flashier but it is youth’s folly.

Q: Why is the spear superior?

The spear, or to use euphemism, a pointy stick, has a greater range or reach than a sword.  When used correctly, this can be to deadly effect.

Q: How so?

The spear always has the advantage of range.  However, most spear fighters does not use that to the fullest extent.  The spear always, thanks to the range, has first or a preemptive strike.  It is important to outthink your enemy than to out-fight him.  The key to doing that is to understand human physiology.

When a person moves forward, it is the legs that move forward first.  If the spearman were to focus not on the body but on the upper legs, specifically the area from the kneecaps to the upper-thigh, that spearman will have a huge advantage.

Q: What kind of huge advantage?

To emphasize, the spearman always has an advantage in range.  By aiming at the legs, the body part that moves first, that spearman doubles that advantage.  It is the person’s legs that move first, then everything else.  The second or fractions of a second needed to get the rest of the body in position can be used to devastating effect by the spearman. 

Q: If the spearman focuses only on the lower body / leg area, then he/she leaves the upper-body open.  Wouldn’t that be a problem?

That is not an issue, again, thanks to the spearman’s range.  If the swordsman were to swing his sword at the upper-body, that person will hit only thin air.  In fact, if that swordman were to do that, the spearman should take this opportunity to attack the legs. 

Q: What if the swordsman has heavy leg armor?  Would that cancel this strategy?

Perhaps, but you will then have a greater strategy.  Throughout history, humankind focuses its armor mostly on the upper half of the body.  The lower-half, if armored, will impair movement.  A fighter that is not agile, due to heavy weights on his legs, will be dead meat to any fighter.  If that is the case, than out-maneuver and aim for the body.  You can still aim for the legs as the enemy’s legs will move slower due to the weight. 

Kind of off-topic, but using the spear also confers another advantage: pierce damage.  The same type of damage caused by modern bullets.  Pierce damage is extremely effective because it concentrates all its power on a small area, making it much more possible to go through (or pierce) enemy armor. 

Q: What if the enemy tries to dodge with his legs?

If the enemy tries to dodge with his or her legs, than that fighter will be unable to attack.  As said earlier, any movement or positioning is done by the legs first.  If the legs are dodging, the fighter will not be coordinated to attack. 

Q: What if the enemy swordsman was able to successfully dodge forward and close-in on the spearman?

This is when a second, concealed, back-up weapon will be needed.  A concealed dagger will be a good choice.  If the swordsman were to break the outer guard of the spearman, the psychology of victory will take over.  That swordman will be so excited to break the guard that he will close-in, almost touching, to kill the spearman.  However, when that happens, the spearman needs to drop the spear quickly, pull out the dagger and stab at the enemy body.  The spearman will benefit from this adage:

“Go big or go home.“

The spearman focuses on long-melee or short-melee range (the dagger).  In the above situation, the spearman will have to be as close to the swordsman as possible, which should be easy as the swordsman is also trying to close the distance to avoid the long-range attack.  It is difficult for the sword to do serious damage when the enemy is skin to skin.  The sword is a medium-ranged weapon, it needs some space to swing to build power.  The dagger, again using the stab-pierce motion/technique, will connect with the body and that will be enough to finish off the wounded warrior.

Q: Describe a typical spear-sword fight using this technique.

The swordsman will be constantly trying to close-in, however, he cannot as his legs betray him.  The spearman may have a few hits on the enemy’s legs, with each hit slowing and damaging the enemy’s mobility.  Eventually, the spearman will make enough hits that the sword fighter will not be able to stand anymore.  When that happens, the spearman can just run him over. 

Another point I almost forgot to mention is that most fighters are trained to defend from upper-body attacks, whether it’s dodging or parrying.  It is harder for most fighters to defend against lower-body attacks.  Looking at human physiology as well, most of the muscles of the arm are geared towards defending the upper-body, as well as ergonomics. 

The experienced spear fighter can also add some fun into the fight, by aiming between the person’s legs.  Would you fight against a spear fighter if that person is always aiming at your dick (sorry for vulgarism)?  Logically, it is not as effective as the knee-cap and upper-thigh area but it could be psychologically effective. 

So, to conclude, by using this method to fight with a spear, the spearman will almost always defeat the swordsman in one-on-one battle. 

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My method of fighting is more of the skirmisher / ranger.  Range beats melee any day.  A person who is adapt in ranged and melee fighting, and is willing to use hit-and-run attacks and prefers range, will be superior to almost any other fighter.  So far, the best doctrine I have is a decentralized, “continued-battle,” where there are no fixed lines, but fluidity and never-ending harassment [of the enemy].  With skirmishers harassing the enemy.  They will of course wear light armor because speed and mobility is more highly valued than protection.  But that is my blog for another time. 

Hope you enjoy reading and try it!  

Add: I did not include the possibility of the swordsman using a shield as well.  But, even then, human physiology confers a disadvantage to defending the lower-body with the shield.  That person, if he or she as a small shield, will have to bend down, sacrificing his or her posture and offensive ability.  With a larger shield, this spear strategy may be less effective and will need to be combined with other spear-fighting strategies.  As with warfare, it is like rock-paper-scissors.  There is no perfect strategy.  There is always a strategy to counter or defeat another strategy.  This technique works best against fighters without a shield.