In 1893, he became judo teacher at third high school in Kyoto, as well as the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, where he competed against several local jujutsu masters.

He is often attributed the creation of the hane goshi throw,[2] although the move can be actually traced back to Yamashita Yoshitsugu.

[4] He was famous for his rivalry with Fusen-ryū master Mataemon Tanabe, who was known for defeating multiple judokas in challenge matches thanks to his ne-waza mastery.

[3] However, this time Isogai had perfected his ne-waza with Kaichiro Samura, a judoka expert in groundfighting who had come from Takeuchi Santo-ryū and worked as Hajime's assistant trainer at the Butoku Kai.

Though initially even, the match started to be gradually controlled by Isogai, who neutralized all of Tanabe's movements and impeded him to try submissions or reversals.