The Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, California, announced the opening of the Warrior Women Exhibit, a groundbreaking installation scheduled for August 22, 2026, at 4 pm PDT. The exhibit aims to recognize the critical and often unrecognized role of women in warfare, cultural preservation, and the protection of indigenous lands.
“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 curated by Kumu (Hawaiian for teacher) Michelle Manu, a 10th-degree black belt and cultural educator. Manu is a teacher and lineage architect of the sacred Hawaiian art of Lua. The exhibit is described as the first of its kind globally to center on women as protectors, strategists, and carriers of martial knowledge.
“This is not about adding women into history - it’s about correcting the record of what has always been true,” Manu said. “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 an official ribbon cutting, is a free public event. It marks the first time women are being honored in a martial arts museum. For more information, visit the Martial Arts History Museum website.
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 news and information regarding other projects, visit her website.
