Minamoto no Yoshitsune (源 義経, 1159 – June 15, 1189) was a nobleman and military commander of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian and early Kamakura periods. He is often connected to the origin of the shinobi or covert tactics in Japan. Yoshitsune spent his childhood in a monastery where he acquired a copy of the military manual "The Six Secret Teachings". He was allegedly trained in the martial arts by a shugendo practitioner, or Yamabushi priest. It is widely understood that there is a connection between shugendo and shinobi no jutsu.
During the Genpei War, he led a series of battles which toppled the Ise-Heishi branch of the Taira clan, helping his half-brother Yoritomo consolidate power. He is considered one of the greatest and the most popular warriors of his era, and one of the most famous samurai fighters in the history of Japan. Yoshitsune perished after being betrayed by the son of a trusted ally.