Martial Arts History Museum to Launch First-Ever Warrior Women Exhibit
The Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, California, is preparing to open the first global exhibit dedicated to women's roles as warriors, strategists, and cultural protectors, aiming to correct historical narratives that have minimized their contributions.
The Martial Arts History Museum will open its Warrior Women Exhibit this summer, marking the first global installation to focus exclusively on women as protectors, strategists, and carriers of martial knowledge. Curated by Kumu Michelle Manu, a 10th Degree Black Belt and teacher of the sacred Hawaiian art of Lua, the exhibit seeks to correct historical records that have often obscured women's roles in warfare and cultural preservation.
"We are setting a historical precedent," said Founder and President Michael Matsuda. He emphasized that female warriors are a significant part of martial arts history and that many wars would not have been won without them, highlighting the museum's support for women within the martial arts community. The exhibit is not merely about adding women into history but about restoring balance and accuracy to narratives that have long minimized their contributions.
Manu, a modern-day warrior and cultural educator, declared, "This is not about adding women into history - it's about correcting the record of what has always been true. For centuries, women's contributions have been minimized or obscured. This exhibit restores balance, accuracy, and truth. Women were never absent from the history of war - only from the way it has been told." The exhibit aims to honor the critical and often unrecognized role of women in protecting indigenous lands and preserving cultural heritage.
The Warrior Women Exhibit Gala, including an official ribbon-cutting, is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 4:00 pm PDT at the Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, California. This event will mark the first time women are being honored in a martial arts museum, with ticket sales to be announced. The museum promotes appreciation of America's cultural diversity by using martial arts as a gateway to share how Asian history became part of American history, as detailed on its website at https://martialartsmuseum.com.
Manu, who integrates ancient knowledge with modern insights, is also involved in other projects, with information available at https://michellemanu.com. The exhibit's implications extend beyond martial arts, challenging broader historical narratives and emphasizing the importance of inclusive storytelling in understanding cultural and military history. By centering women's experiences, it encourages a reevaluation of how societies recognize and value diverse contributions to heritage and conflict.