In 1863, Ryoma exerted himself into establishing Kobe Navy Training Center that KATSU promoted and Ryoma became president of the trainees of Kobe Navy School opened earlier than the Training Center, but some historians including Rei MATSUURA who is eminent as the researcher of Kaishu KATSU are skeptical about the theory of Ryoma being president of the trainees.
1863年（文久3年）、勝が進める神戸海軍操練所の設立に尽力し、操練所よりも先に開設された神戸海軍塾の塾頭をつとめるただし、勝海舟の研究者として著名な歴史家の松浦玲をはじめとして何人かの歴史家は、龍馬が塾頭を務めたという説には懐疑的である。