Is regular Isshin phase 2 & 3 supposed to be easy?

Now sure, I did get absolutely folded by phase 1, but 2 and 3 felt like a breeze, spears just feels easier to parry, I first tried phase 3, and had no prosthetic tools, and no combat art thing on, I nearly did it death less, but missed a parry and died like an idiot, but I felt that his first phase was way harder then 2 and 3, am I wrong or nah? (Also, I just started NG+, so wish me luck🙏)