[ApporpSothe]

Shinkendo is Obata Toshishiro's creation. It is a sword art based upon his many years of experience in several different sword arts. Toyama ryu is a part of their curriculum. I guess you could classify them as a kenjutsu art. They are considered a legitimate sword art and, from what I have seen, Obata sensei is very picky about the quality of his instructors.
The only problem I have with them is that they are very stand-offish from the rest of the sword community. This is by design of Obata sensei. The high ranked members of the art that I have conversed with on-line seem to know what they are talking about, and are decent people. I've never seen any of their stuff live because, as I said, they don't mix with the rest of us. I have had very good reports from those that have seen them though.

What I understand the it is with live blades? Koaru would not approve.... Actually, I believe all of their single kata are done with live blades, as are several other sword arts. I remember hearing that they do not condone the use of iaito. Kaoru would approve, since it is all under a legitimate instructor that knows what he is doing.