Martial Arts History Museum to Open First-Ever Warrior Women Exhibit

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 groundbreaking installation aims to honor the critical and often unrecognized role of women in warfare, cultural preservation, and the protection of indigenous lands. According to founder and President Michael Matsuda, the exhibit sets a historical precedent by recognizing that female warriors are a significant part of martial arts history and that many wars would not have been won without them.

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 as protectors, strategists, and carriers of martial knowledge. Manu, a modern-day woman warrior and cultural educator, is a teacher and lineage architect of the sacred Hawaiian art of Lua. She emphasizes that the exhibit is not about adding women into history but correcting the record of what has always been true. For centuries, women’s contributions have been minimized or obscured, and this exhibit restores balance, accuracy, and truth.

The Warrior Women Exhibit Gala, which will include an official ribbon cutting, is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2026, beginning at 4:00 p.m. PDT. This free public event marks the first time women are being honored in a martial arts museum. The exhibit aims to restore what was never missing—women's integral role in the history of war and martial arts.

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. For more information on her projects, visit michellemanu.com.

This exhibit has significant implications for the martial arts community and beyond, as it corrects historical narratives and highlights the contributions of women. For Texas readers, it underscores the importance of recognizing diverse perspectives in history and could inspire similar initiatives in the state. The exhibit not only educates but also empowers, showing that women have always been protectors and warriors.