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 |
| Opening Hours | 11:00am-6:00pm Wednesday-Sunday |
The Martial Arts History Museum is a special place in Glendale, California, USA. It teaches visitors all about the history of martial arts. Martial arts are different ways of fighting or defending yourself, often from Asia. The museum helps young people learn about the art, culture, and traditions behind these amazing skills. It also shows how Asian history and martial arts became a part of American history.
The museum has many sections. You can explore martial arts from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. There are also sections for America (including Hawaii), Anime, and Media.
Contents
The Museum's Story
How the Museum Started
The Martial Arts History Museum was created by a man named Michael Matsuda. He has been involved with martial arts for a long time. He used to write for popular magazines like Inside Kung Fu and Black Belt. Michael Matsuda is also a master of Monkey Kung Fu, a unique martial arts style. He has been practicing different martial arts since 1968.
From Online to a Real Place
The museum first started online with its website in 1999. Later, it began holding yearly Hall of Fame events. These events honored important people in martial arts history. The museum became a non-profit organization, which means it's run for public benefit, not for making money.
For six years, the Martial Arts History Museum was a traveling exhibit. It visited many places, from San Diego to New Jersey. It went to expos, anime festivals, martial arts tournaments, and Asian shows.
Finding a Permanent Home
In 2006, the museum found its first permanent home in Santa Clarita, California. Then, in 2010, it moved to Burbank, California. It officially opened its doors to the public there on June 25, 2011. Most recently, in 2024, the museum moved to its current location in Glendale.
Learning Resources
The Martial Arts History Museum also creates special books each year. These books are like reference guides for martial arts history. They cover the history of different martial arts and the story of how the museum began.
What You Can See
Exploring Martial Arts Styles
The Martial Arts History Museum has many exciting exhibits. They show different martial arts styles and where they came from. You can learn about:
- Kung fu from China
- The history of samurai and ninja from Japan
- Karate and judo from Japan
- Hawaiian Lua
- Filipino kali
- Thailand's Muay Thai
The museum also displays the cool weapons used in each of these martial arts.
Movies, TV, and Anime
There's a special Media Room at the museum. Here, you can see items from martial arts movies and TV shows. Imagine seeing:
- The actual gopher chucks from the movie "Kung Pow! Enter the Fist"
- The real headband worn by Ralph Macchio in "The Karate Kid"
- A demon mask from "Revenge of the Ninja"
- A uniform from the movie "Wendy Wu"
The museum also has an animatronic character that was recently added. 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 all about the History of Anime, which includes characters like Hong Kong Phooey.
Fun Events and Workshops
The museum often hosts many events every month. These include:
- Book fairs
- Sword cutting demonstrations
- Movie premieres
- Sushi making classes
- First aid workshops
- History lessons
- Basic language classes
- Asian musical performances
- Martial arts demonstrations
- Self-defense workshops for women
The museum also plans to feature Armenian kokh (a type of folk wrestling) and Mexican lucha libre (a style of wrestling).
