Having lost their oarsmen and thus their means to direct their course, the Taira forces were thrown into confusion, and just then Yoshitsune's army made their attack; the brave among the east Japan soldiers boarded the enemy ships and engaged them in hand-to-hand fighting.
漕ぎ手を失った平氏軍は身動きが取れなくなって狼狽、そこを義経軍が攻めかかり、武勇の坂東武者たちが敵船に乗り移って白兵戦となった。