The Waki is much heavier, so compared to the Northwind, it is slower in the hand. A lot of it has to do with technique, though. The long handle on the Waki allows for different grips. Gripped up near the front, the heavy handle acts as a counterweight, allowing for fast snap cuts and such. It also can be used to increase reach in a thrust or slash. I admit, I am not an expert with swords and I am still learning how to handle the Waki. I'm sure that someone more proficient with such weapons could do better than I can. The Northwind is much like a machete, and I am very familiar with using those.