The Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, California, has announced the opening of the Warrior Women Exhibit this summer, a groundbreaking installation that aims to recognize 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 cultural educator, the exhibit is the first of its kind globally to center on women as protectors, strategists, and carriers of martial knowledge.
“We are setting a historical precedent!” said Founder and President Michael Matsuda. “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 exhibit seeks to correct historical narratives that have minimized women’s contributions to martial arts and warfare.
Kumu Michelle Manu, a teacher and lineage architect of the sacred Hawaiian art of Lua, emphasized the exhibit’s purpose: “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. This exhibit restores what was never missing.”
The Warrior Women Exhibit Gala, featuring an official ribbon cutting, is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2026, beginning 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. Ticket sales details will be announced later.
The Martial Arts History Museum aims to promote an appreciation of America’s cultural diversity by using martial arts as a gateway to share how Asian history became part of American history. For more information, visit martialartsmuseum.com.
Dr. Kumu Michelle Manu, JD, PhD, is a metaphysician, master martial artist, and cultural educator. She is a champion of women’s self-protection and longevity, integrating ancient knowledge with quantum physics. For further details, visit michellemanu.com.
