The Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, California, announced the opening of the Warrior Women Exhibit, a groundbreaking installation scheduled for this summer. The exhibit, curated by Dr. Kumu Michelle Manu, a 10th Degree Black Belt and cultural educator, aims to highlight the critical and often unrecognized contributions of women in warfare, cultural preservation, and the protection of indigenous lands.
“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 Warrior Women Exhibit is described as the first of its kind globally to center on women as protectors, strategists, and carriers of martial knowledge. Manu, a teacher and lineage architect of the sacred Hawaiian art of Lua, stated, “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.”
The exhibition will feature a gala and official ribbon cutting on Saturday, August 22, 2026, beginning at 4:00 pm PDT at the museum located at martialartsmuseum.com. Ticket sales are to be announced. This event marks the first time women are being honored in a martial arts museum.
The Martial Arts History Museum exists to promote an appreciation of America’s cultural diversity by using the martial arts as a gateway into sharing how Asian history became part of American history. Dr. Kumu Michelle Manu, JD, PhD, is a metaphysician, master martial artist, and cultural educator who champions women’s self-protection and longevity, integrating ancient knowledge with quantum physics. More information about her work is available at michellemanu.com.
