Hi Nathan,
Is the Shinkendo book by Obata Sensei a text version of the Shinkendo video from 94/95? I liked the video, and I have all of Obota Sensei's other books and videos.
Your instructor's earliest books and magazine articles (Int'l & Australian mag's) was one of the inspirations for me to pursue the true Budo of Japan especially the koryu!
Cheers,
Paul Steadman