The Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, California, announced today that it will open the first-ever Warrior Women Exhibit this summer, a groundbreaking installation dedicated to recognizing the critical and often unrecognized role of women in warfare, cultural preservation, and the protection of indigenous lands.
Curated by Kumu Michelle Manu, a 10th Degree Black Belt and teacher of the sacred Hawaiian art of Lua, the exhibit is described as the first of its kind globally to center on women as protectors, strategists, and carriers of martial knowledge. “This is not about adding women into history - it’s about correcting the record of what has always been true,” Manu stated. “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.”
Founder and President Michael Matsuda emphasized the historical significance of the exhibit. “We are setting a historical precedent! Not only are female warriors a significant part of martial arts history, but many wars would not have been won without them…here to let the community know we support women within the martial arts.”
The Warrior Women Exhibit Gala, featuring an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 4:00 pm PDT at the Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale. This event will mark the first time women are being honored in a martial arts museum. Ticket sales will be announced at a later date.
The museum, which aims to promote appreciation of America’s cultural diversity through martial arts, highlights how Asian history became part of American history. For more information about the museum, visit their website at martialartsmuseum.com.
Dr. Kumu Michelle Manu, a metaphysician, master martial artist, and cultural educator, brings her expertise as a disruptor and thought leader to the exhibit. She is a champion of women’s self-protection and longevity, integrating ancient knowledge with quantum physics. For more on her work, visit michellemanu.com.
