Some say that he was trained at Katayama-Hoki school; however, bases for this theory are that at the time most popular iai (instantaneous drawing of sword) had been that of Hoki style, and although the movement had been different, Hoki style of iai included cutting the opponent slashing from bottom to top up to the shoulder.
片山伯耆流を修行したという説もあるが、その根拠となっているのは、当時、熊本藩で最も盛んだった居合が伯耆流だったという事と、所作こそ異なれど伯耆流には逆袈裟斬りの業が多い点が、その理由として挙げられている。