The Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, California, will launch the first-ever Warrior Women Exhibit on August 22, 2026, a pioneering installation that aims to recognize the often-overlooked contributions of women in warfare, cultural preservation, and the protection of indigenous lands. The exhibit, curated by Kumu Michelle Manu, a 10th Degree Black Belt and cultural educator, 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 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 aims to correct historical narratives that have minimized women's roles, according to Manu. “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.”
The Warrior Women Exhibit Gala, featuring an official ribbon cutting, will take place on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 4:00 pm PDT. The event is free and open to the public. This marks the first time women are being honored in a martial arts museum setting. Manu, a modern-day woman warrior and teacher of the sacred Hawaiian art of Lua, is a 10th Degree Black Belt and lineage architect. She is also a metaphysician and cultural educator who integrates ancient knowledge with quantum physics.
For business and technology leaders, the exhibit underscores a growing trend in cultural institutions to leverage technology and inclusive storytelling to engage diverse audiences. The museum’s focus on correcting historical inaccuracies aligns with broader movements in corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The exhibit could inspire similar efforts in other sectors to recognize underrepresented contributions, potentially influencing how companies approach historical narratives and workforce recognition.
The Martial Arts History Museum, which uses martial arts to promote appreciation of America’s cultural diversity, highlights how Asian history became part of American history. More information is available at martialartsmuseum.com. For updates on Manu’s work, visit michellemanu.com.
