The Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, California, will open the first-ever Warrior Women Exhibit on Aug. 22, 2026, at 4 p.m., honoring the often unrecognized role of women in warfare, cultural preservation and the protection of indigenous lands. The groundbreaking installation aims to set a historical precedent by showcasing female warriors as protectors, strategists and carriers of martial knowledge.
Curated by Kumu (Hawaiian for teacher) Michelle Manu, a 10th Degree Black Belt, the exhibit is the first of its kind globally to center on women in martial arts history. Manu, a modern-day woman warrior and cultural educator, is a teacher and lineage architect of the sacred Hawaiian art of Lua. The Martial Arts History Museum presents this exhibit to let the community know they support warrior women throughout the ages.
“This is not about adding women into history - it’s about correcting the record of what has always been true,” declares Manu. “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, which will include the official ribbon cutting, is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, beginning at 4 p.m. PDT. This is a free event open to the public. Hosted by the Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, California, this event will mark the first time women are being honored in a martial arts museum.
Museum Founder and President Michael Matsuda emphasizes the 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,” he says. The exhibit aims to restore balance and truth to the historical narrative, highlighting that women were never absent from the history of war, only from the way it has been told.
Dr. Kumu Michelle Manu, JD, PhD, is a metaphysician, master martial artist, and cultural educator. A disruptor and thought leader, she is a champion of women’s self-protection and longevity, integrating ancient knowledge with quantum physics to unlock human potential. More information about her work can be found at michellemanu.com.
