He was a strong man like his father, Yoshiie who was called "The best heroic samurai in the world," having contributed at the Zen Kunen no Eki (the Early Nine Years' War) and the Go Sannen no Eki (the Later Three Years' War).
前九年の役、後三年の役で活躍し「天下第一の武勇の士」と尊崇を集めた父義家譲りのつわものであった。