The term 'Bushi' was sometimes used to refer to someone who had the right to punish with power, and this also was a sarcastic comment towards the aristocracy (including Sadamichi) who had become ubiquitous to the bushi class.
この当時は実力で処断権を有する者を広く「武士」と称する用法があった事に加えて、承久の変後、武士に対して卑屈に成り下がった（定通自身も含めた）公家社会に対する痛烈な皮肉であると考えられている。