The Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, California, is set to open the first-ever Warrior Women Exhibit on August 22, 2026, at 4 p.m. PDT. The installation aims to recognize the critical and often overlooked contributions of women in warfare, cultural preservation, and the protection of indigenous lands throughout history.
Curated by Dr. Kumu Michelle Manu, a 10th-degree black belt and cultural educator, the exhibit is described as a global first in centering on women as protectors, strategists, and carriers of martial knowledge. Manu, a lineage architect of the sacred Hawaiian art of Lua, stated that the exhibit is about correcting the historical record. “For centuries, women’s contributions have been minimized or obscured. This exhibit restores balance, accuracy, and truth,” she said in the announcement.
Museum founder and president Michael Matsuda emphasized the significance of the exhibit, noting that female warriors have been a vital part of martial arts history and that many wars would not have been won without them. “We are setting a historical precedent,” Matsuda added.
The Warrior Women Exhibit will feature a gala with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the event is free and open to the public. According to the museum, this marks the first time women are being honored in a martial arts museum setting. The exhibit aims to restore what Manu describes as “what was never missing” — the presence and impact of women in the history of war and martial arts.
The Martial Arts History Museum, which promotes appreciation of America’s cultural diversity through martial arts, provides more information at martialartsmuseum.com. For details on curator Michelle Manu’s other projects, visit michellemanu.com.
