The Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, California, has announced the opening of the Warrior Women Exhibit, a groundbreaking installation scheduled for this summer that aims to honor the critical and often unrecognized role of women in warfare, cultural preservation, and the protection of indigenous lands. Curated by Dr. Kumu Michelle Manu, a 10th Degree Black Belt and cultural educator, the exhibit is described as 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 in a press release. “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 is curated by Manu, a teacher and lineage architect of the sacred Hawaiian art of Lua, who brings her expertise as a modern-day woman warrior and cultural educator.
“This is not about adding women into history - it’s about correcting the record of what has always been true,” Manu declared. “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, August 22, 2026, beginning at 4:00 pm PDT at the Martial Arts History Museum. This event will mark the first time women are being honored in a martial arts museum. Ticket sales have yet to be announced.
The Martial Arts History Museum exists to promote an appreciation of America’s cultural diversity by using the martial arts as its gateway into sharing how Asian history became part of American history. More information is available at martialartsmuseum.com. Dr. Kumu Michelle Manu, JD, PhD, is a metaphysician, master martial artist, and cultural educator. For news and information regarding other projects, visit michellemanu.com.
