The position of 'Soke', or Grand Master, who was in charge of "Kyuho" and the Ogasawara style of etiquette, was passed down in Soryo-ke (the main branch of the family) for generations, but in 1562, to prevent the horseback archery technique from dying out, the 17th head of the family, Nagatoki OGASAWARA, and his son Sadayoshi OGASAWARA, who as daimyo (Japanese territorial lord) in the Sengoku period were involved in fierce battles against Shingen TAKEDA, handed the art of "kyuho", the family geneology and records to their cousin, Tsunenaga OGASAWARA, entrusting him with passing on the arts of archery, horsemanship and courtesy.
小笠原家は代々、総領家（本家）が糾法および小笠原流礼法全般をとりしきり「宗家」となっていたが、惣領家十七代の小笠原長時とその子小笠原貞慶は、戦国大名として武田信玄らと壮絶な戦を繰り広げる中、弓馬礼法の伝統を絶やさないため、永禄5年（1562年）、従兄弟筋にあたる小笠原経長に糾法的伝と系図、記録を携え、弓馬術礼法の道統を託した。