[hacyOrgachbic]

Here in the US we have seen an enourmous increase in the practice of tameshigiri, sparking the flood of chinese made shinken. I recall reading an interview with Obata sensei in Aikijournal years ago where he was openly critical about the inability of many people to do tameshigiri. While there may have been a few other sword arts actively practicing tameshigiri here in the US, it is my belief that Shinkendo is largely behind most of it.