Actually, considering how Ive noticed enemy defense reducing damage (ie., by flat amounts, so you can get to zero damage if you dont do enough), it seems to me it would be to your benefit to make big/heavy strikes instead of speedy/weak ones. Beastlords get an "A-" in 1 handed axes (same as a warrior) and they can use the best axes too. However, a Bst/Nin wouldnt have any cool specials (like warrior's beserk, monk's boost, thieve's sneak attack, etc etc). On the plus side, this probably means you won't draw much agro which is good since your armor wouldnt be the best (though you would have Utsusemi). I can only BS though, since my character is barely in his 20s.