Complex sentence: This was accompanied by an increased tendency by local warriors (kokujin) towards independence (such as in kokujin ikki) and some independent kokujin sought to gain independent control over territory as the shugo had.
Split into simpler sentences: This was accompanied by an increased tendency towards independence by local kokujin (such as in kokujin ikki). Some independent kokujin sought to gain independent control over territory as the shugo had.