As tradition has it, the moment tall Kogoro held a bamboo sword over his head as he liked to do so, he 'overwhelmed those around him with his calm fighting sprit.'
大柄な小五郎が、得意の上段に竹刀を構えるや否や「その静謐（せいひつ）な気魄（きはく）に周囲が圧倒された」と伝えられる。