The hero known as the Tiger of Kai, he is an expert at Sun Tzu's Art of War. Takeda's battle flag is emblazoned with the characters "Fu Rin Ka Zan" (Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain): an exhortation to his troops to be 'as swift as the wind, as quiet as the forest, as invasive as fire, and as unmovable as the mountains.' After he sent his father into exile, he became head of the family and expanded his territory by leading an exceptionally strong cavalry. He formed an alliance with the major clans of the province of Shinshu (present day Nagano) and battled against long-time rival Kenshin Uesugi at Kawanakajima. He didn't relent until, in the fifth battle, he finally defeated his enemy, thus solidifying his control of Shinshu. After defeating the Imagawa family, which had invaded Suruga, he undertook a westward campaign toward the capital. At Mikatagahara, he defeated the allied armies of Oda and Tokugawa in an overwhelming show of force.