Kulshan Aikikai started as an Associated Students club of Western Washington University in January of 2002 with a small group of dedicated Aikido students who trained at 6 am three days a week. During June of 2008 the mat room on the WWU campus was reclaimed by the university, and the search to find a new training space began. In September of 2008, with the hard work and generosity of several Aikido club members, Kulshan Aikikai established a Dojo dedicated to Aikido training in downtown Bellingham. Kulshan Aikikai incorporated in the State of Washington in 2008 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.