In the early days of Kodokan judo, there were many people who came from jujutsu, including those of Tenjin Shinyo-ryu, and people in jujutsu simply regarded Kodokan judo as a new branch of jujutsu; many people in jujutsu were invited on the opening date of Kodokan Judo Institute.
草創期の講道館の人間は天神真楊流などの柔術出身者が多く、柔術側からも講道館柔道は新しい柔術の一流派くらいに考えられていた（講道館の道場開きに多くの柔術関係者が招かれている）。