Hello all,
Just few notes from some actual Shinkenodka (almost 13 yrs. tenure). The best way to assess Shinkendo (or any training for that matter) is to visit the dojo where it is being taught and see if it's a good fit for you (training goals, tastes, ect). As instructors, we have found training to be a very personal enterprise--each student enters with their own unique goals, reasons for training, and capabilities.
As per the changes to the curriculum, yes, there have been many, but these changes have been in more in terms of expansions as opposed to deletions, such as the addition of movement sets that teach specific points in a more focused manner. In addition, other features of training (such as nitoken and expanded perspectives on kumite) have actually made the curriculum more complex, as opposed to less, so the speculation that things have somehow become simplified is not supported.
Another thing that has changed; there is now a greater tolerance for a broader range of training goals and learning styles. The philosophy is one of: "Shinkendo can be a beneficial pursuit for any student seeking to train", as opposed to catering to a specific type of student or mindset.
In closing I would like to note that Shinkendo has become a more positive art as it has grown and matured.
Hope this perspective helps,
Marlene & Jeff Harris
Mesa, AZ