He learned kemari from his childhood as there were many good players of kemari in his mother's side of family of Kamo Kannushi, and it is said that he was especially taught by a "saintly kicker, FUJIWARA no Narimichi."
母方の賀茂神主家に鞠の名手が多かったことから幼少より鞠を習い、「蹴聖」藤原成通に教えを受けたという。