Shin-Kendo
 

So what's up with this stuff? Is it legit?

Yes.

I can't tell you very much about it other than my Senpai practiced it out on the east coast.

This has been done in the past but I can't seem to find a single thread when I search.
One of the shinkendo sensei was in my naginata dojo and I never got a McDojo feel from him. He was very nice, down to Earth, and never pushed his art on anyone. I didn't even know he was one of the leading sensei untill I looked at their site. If I recall correctly they were actually a little picky about who can join. The founder is legitimatly ranked in all the arts he teaches, but I cannot really comment one way or the other.

If it's the Shinkendo founded by Obata, it's legit. Obata has high grades in a number of arts. Shinkendo is his art, so it's kind of like asking if judo or kendo are legit... it hasn't had a century of being practiced yet.
If it's not the Shinkendo of Obata, then that's another matter.

what is shinkendo?

Is this the same guy who said Ninja Vanish in TMNT?

it is indeed

Do they really fence with Bokuto, or am I miss-interpreting this whole "Tachiuchi" thing?

Tachi uchi are paired sword forms. Kata, not sparring. Sparring with bokken is very dangerous.

what is shinkendo? Shinkendo is the sword art developed by Obata Toshishiro based upon his experience in several different arts. It seems to be well thought out from what I understand of it, but I don't really agree with their strict separatist policies which holds them totally aloof from the rest of the JSA community. To learn more about Shinkendo, visit their web site here ... http://www.shinkendo.com

You can also learn alot about them from a spotlight stint that he had on e-budo back in 2000 ... http://www.e-budo.com/forum/forumdis...c&daysprune=-1