The Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, California, announced the first-ever Warrior Women Exhibit, a groundbreaking installation that recognizes the often overlooked contributions of women in martial arts and warfare. The exhibit, curated by Dr. Kumu Michelle Manu, a 10th Degree Black Belt and lineage architect of the sacred Hawaiian art of Lua, will open on August 22, 2026, at 4:00 pm PDT with a free public gala and ribbon cutting.
“We are setting a historical precedent!” said Michael Matsuda, Founder and President of the museum. “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 warrior women throughout the ages.” 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, emphasized the importance of correcting historical inaccuracies. “This is not about adding women into history - it’s about correcting the record of what has always been true,” she 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 exhibit will feature artifacts, stories, and educational displays highlighting women from various cultures who played crucial roles in warfare, cultural preservation, and the protection of indigenous lands. The museum aims to promote an appreciation of cultural diversity by showcasing how Asian history became part of American history through the martial arts.
The Warrior Women Exhibit Gala is free and open to the public. For more information about the museum, visit martialartsmuseum.com. For updates on Dr. Kumu Michelle Manu’s projects, visit michellemanu.com.
