To sort of get a handle on the type of action and fighting in my novels, I've wanted to start watching a bunch of Akira Kurasawa films. The sort of realistic kind of swordfighting. As well as some anime films like Sword of the Stranger, Ninja Scroll and tv shows like Afro Samurai and Samurai Champloo. Is there anything else I should look into? I've recently been inspired to do this while playing through the game Nioh and love the fast yet methodical combat that game intails but I want it from a storytelling perspective.
Get on youtube and watch people who practice the martial art with the weapons a Samurai would use, to get a more realistic view of the fighting style.
Try Samurai Jack. It's one of the most visually stunning shows, and the first western animated show to hire a choreographer so sort out realistic samurai moves.