wielding the blade

The word "samurai" comes from the Japanese word saburo, which means "to serve."

"The samurai are the stuff of legend.  Fiercely loyal to their lord, they fought with keenly honed skills and ferocious dedication.  And they had no fear of death."

"For the samurai, defeat was unacceptable ... and on the battlefield, every opportunity had to be taken."

"Form doesn't matter in war." 

- Samurai: Behind the Blade (2008) 47 mins.