In 1180, his grandfather Yorimasa and father Nakatsuna supported Prince Mochihito and raised an army to revolt against the Taira family (the battle of Uji-gawa River).
1180年、祖父・頼政、父・仲綱らは以仁王を擁して平家に叛旗を翻す（宇治川の戦い）。