Martial Arts History Museum facts for kids
Martial Arts History Museum
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| Established | 1999 |
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| Location | 201 N. Brand Blvd., B100, Glendale, CA 91203 |
| Type | Martial Arts History Museum |
| Public transit access | Metrolink: Downtown Burbank |
| Opening Hours | 11:00am-6:00pm Wednesday-Sunday |
The Martial Arts History Museum is a special place in Glendale, California. It is a museum all about the history of martial arts in America.
This museum teaches young people and visitors about different cultures. It shows how Asian history and traditions became part of American history through martial arts. The museum has many sections, including areas for China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Hawaii, Anime, and Media.
Contents
How the Museum Started
The museum was created by Michael Matsuda. He has practiced many martial arts styles since 1968. He is even a master of Monkey Kung Fu.
The museum first started online with a website in 1999. Later, it began holding special Hall of Fame events each year. The Martial Arts History Museum became a non-profit group. This means it's a charity that helps people learn.
Traveling Exhibits and New Homes
For six years, the museum was a traveling exhibit. It went to many places, from San Diego to New Jersey. It visited expos, anime festivals, and martial arts tournaments.
In 2006, the museum found a permanent home in Santa Clarita, California. Then, in 2010, it moved to Burbank, California. The museum officially opened its doors to the public in Burbank on June 25, 2011.
What You Can See: Museum Exhibits
The Martial Arts History Museum has many exciting exhibits. They cover different martial arts and the countries where they began.
Martial Arts Styles and Weapons
You can see displays about many martial arts, such as:
The museum also shows off the cool weapons used in each of these fighting styles.
Movies, TV, and Anime
There is a special Media Room at the museum. Here, you can see items from martial arts movies and TV shows.
- You might spot the real "gopher chucks" from the movie "Kung Pow! Enter the Fist."
- See the actual headband Ralph Macchio wore in "The Karate Kid."
- There's also a demon mask from "Revenge of the Ninja."
- You can even see a uniform from "Wendy Wu."
The museum also has an animatronic character that moves and talks!
Learning About Culture
As you walk through the museum, you can watch videos in each section. These videos show how Asian culture has influenced American history. In 2015, the museum added a new exhibit called "The History of Anime." It even includes Hong Kong Phooey!
Fun Events at the Museum
The museum often hosts many exciting events every month. These include:
- Book fairs
- Sword cutting shows
- Movie premieres
- Sushi making classes
- First aid workshops
- History lessons
- Basic language classes
- Asian musical performances
- Martial arts demonstrations
- Self-defense workshops for women
