In 1853, Ryoma moved to Edo (Tokyo) to master swordsmanship, and joined the dojo of Sadakichi CHIBA (commonly known as Kochiba dojo in Chiyoda-ku Ward, Tokyo), whose elder brother is Shusaku CHIBA, the founder of the Hokushin Itto-ryu style at Oke-cho.
1853年（嘉永6年）に剣術修行のため江戸（東京都）に出て、桶町の北辰一刀流剣術開祖千葉周作の弟の千葉定吉道場（通称：小千葉道場）（東京都千代田区）に入門した。