The short Yari is basically a spear, and it’s much handier than anything longer. Not so good on slashing though. For that you’d use a Naganata, which is an 18 to 30 inch single edged tanto or you could use wakashashi blade on a stick which slashes well at a distance.

Long ago, the Vikings (may have) used wing spears for boarding other vessels. This little fellow is purely from my imagination of what that might have looked like.