specifics in Spear fighting combat

[Kineas]

I understand that it had to be kept close. I'm not that much of a heretic! I will note, though, that without some intervals in the line, it is awfully hard to move anywhere. 18th c. armies couldn't, and they spent much more time at linear marching drill than most hoplites. 18th C. armies had to leave an interval of about 1/6 of their frontage between battalions, and an interval between companies in the battalion (it was different in different manuals). or looked at another way, a whole phalanx moving along the knife edge of a gentle slope is going to split, and they'll split even if every man is a member of the UK foot guards... or that's been my experience. What happens when part of your line hits an obstruction?
Final point (and to be fair, my main period is the 4th c. BC) I think it is worth keeping in mind when looking at Pankration and swordsmanship and the like, that many hoplites also fought at sea, or went on overseas expeditions, where the possibility fo fighting man to man in a "single" combat was much higher.
Also worth noting that Xenophon's description of Mantinea mentions a picked force charging out of the formation (same guys who were at Kunaxa!). Is this a forlorn hope? (I don't think anyone knows, but such stuff did happen.)
I only keep up this stream of supposition to say that I think there were many, many incidences where a hoplite might profit from some personal combat training. Which is not to say I disagree with any of your points about the function of the phalanx or the average hoplites place in the line.

Anyway, I'm here to learn. I expect to be in Greece next spring (April 15 to May 15 or so) and I'd love to come to an event and see your drill, meet you gentlemen, and have some practical experience to take home to Canada.