This might work better if u add a small force behind each player. Something closer to jousting but much less momentum. This way u dont have to concentrate so much on moving fwd (just move the legs so u get a bit more momentum) and u can focus on the impact point where u hit the opponent.
Try twitching a jousting.tbm, lower the push momentum, distance, height and try the frames u tested. It might work a little better i think.