Founded  in 1961 in South Bend  Indiana

 

Kancho James C. Gillis began training in the Shotokan style in 1959. Prior to that he studied Judo and Canadian Police Jiu-Jitsu.  In 1961 he opened the Kandan Karate School in the Gillis' family garage after converting the building into a Dojo (school).  Kandan is the first Karate school established in Indiana in 1961.  The first women's class was instituted in 1964.   In 1966  the Kandan Tournament Team was formed and competed throughout the Midwest and the East Coast gathering a great number of wins, awards, and top rankings.

  In 1967 Kancho Gillis began teaching Police Defensive Tactics and Riot Control to various Police Departments.  It was during this time that Kancho was approached by Masutatsu (Mas) Oyama about joining the world famous Kyokushinkai  Karate  Organization headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.  After weeks of thought and discussion, Kancho decided to join his Kandan Karate School with the  Kyokushinkai organization and was awarded the title of Branch Chief Instructor of Indiana by Mas Oyama.  In addition he earned his promotion to Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt).

   After joining the Kyokushinkai,  Kancho was named Chief Karate Instructor for the South Bend YMCA which later became the South Bend Parks Department.   Kancho then opened the first Kandan School on the campus of Notre Dame University.  Three years later, Kancho developed the "Practical Self Defense for Women" program for the South Bend Police Department that was later adopted by other law enforcement organizations and continues to be taught  today by various Police Departments throughout the United States. During this time branches of the Kandan School opened at Krannert Community Center led by Sensei Martin Radecki, and also on the campus of Indiana University lead by Sensei Mike Claybor . 

       On August 1, 2006 Kancho Gillis passed away suddenly .  And the Honbu(Headquarters) was moved to Indianapolis in June 2008 under the direction of  Shihan Donald Schenck and in 2012 became: Gillis'  Kandan  Karate  School at Garfield Park/Burrello Family Center.