The Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, California, announced the launch of the Warrior Women Exhibit, opening this summer. The exhibit is a groundbreaking installation honoring the critical and often unrecognized role of women in warfare, cultural preservation, and the protection of indigenous lands.
"We are setting a historical precedent!" Founder and President Michael Matsuda said. "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."
Curated by Dr. Kumu Michelle Manu, a 10th Degree Black Belt and cultural educator, the exhibit is the first of its kind globally to center on women as protectors, strategists, and carriers of martial knowledge. Manu is a teacher and lineage architect of the sacred Hawaiian art of Lua. "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. This exhibit restores what was never missing."
The Warrior Women Exhibit Gala, featuring an official ribbon cutting, 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 later.
The museum, which aims to promote appreciation of America’s cultural diversity through martial arts, will host the exhibit as part of its mission to share how Asian history became part of American history. For more information about the museum, visit martialartsmuseum.com. For more on Dr. Kumu Michelle Manu, visit michellemanu.com.
This exhibit highlights the importance of recognizing women's contributions to martial arts and warfare, correcting historical narratives that have often omitted their roles. By restoring balance and accuracy, the Warrior Women Exhibit serves as a vital educational resource and a celebration of women's strength and resilience.
