He studied Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū kenjutsu under Otani Nobutomo and zazen meditation under Sengai; he was also a student of Kitō-ryū jujutsu.
[1] Shimada was a skilled swordsman in his youth, and in 1837 he travelled to Edo to partake in challenge matches.
His ferocity and ability with the sword brought him considerable success, and he finally issued a challenge to Otani Nobutomo, who was at the time the most highly regarded swordsman in the city.
During the duel, Otani allowed Shimada to win, in order to gauge the young man's response to an easy victory.
Sceptical of studying under a man he had previously defeated, Shimada challenged Otani to a rematch.