This place was actually pretty awesome. And I wasn't anticipating that. Me myself I'm not really into Martial arts, but I brought my friend here who is a martial arts enthusiast. This museum is small and unsuspecting. It's on the basement floor of a retail type space you have to get in the elevator and go down to get to it but once you enter the man at the front and desk is super friendly and super informative he tells you how to to the museum and he encourages you to really take your time and read everything. To get the full experience and read everything it took us about 1.5 hours. They also have a cool gift shop, where my friend ended up buying me some really awesome sword earrings, which I learned they make in house. I hope this place stays open! It's really neat! read more

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This is a small museum, but uses the space really well. If you are a fan of martial arts, it's a great stop. Artifacts from real martial artists, as well as from entertainment. If you get lucky, you can even get a tour thrown in. They have special events, so check out their web page. read more

Martial Arts History Museum - Weapons of The Philippines - Museums Near Me - Glendale, California

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This museum is a cool addition to Glendale. The cashier was very friendly, and there are a lot of interesting items. Be sure to check out the Armenia room! read more

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Highly highly recommend taking a tour and visiting the Martial Arts History Museum! Check out their website for hours and location. They also have museum items you can purchase to buy as gifts! Kid friendly! There are also anime martial arts characters too! The Martial Arts History Museum moved to Glendale in a much bigger space with more room and more items to see. Check out their website and social media for event postings! read more

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A truly unique museum full of martial arts history. The displays are magnificent and curated thoughtfully. The original location in Burbank was a bit smaller, this new location is much larger. There are about three or so events each month honoring different people in the martial arts world. Bring the whole family and loved ones and enjoy this exquisite museum. There's plenty of parking nearby on the street and in parking lots with very reasonable prices. Tons of super cute shops and restaurants nearby as well. Thankful to see a museum that highlights and honors the martial arts community. The owner is awesome for having the passion and vision to help keep the legacy of Martial Arts alive. read more

Martial Arts History Museum is a very small museum which showcase the timeline of adventure exploring the countries of Japan, China, Korea, Hawaii and the Philippines. Moreover, they have media film section which feature martial arts in TV and film. It took me a little over 35 mins to explore and read all exhibits. My favorite weapon displayed in the museum was the Hatori Hanzo samurai sword from Kill Bill movie. Admission price is $10 bucks. Staff was informative, cordial and professional. Parking structure is free next to the museum. Overall, I enjoyed my time in this museum and I learned a lot of martial art, anime and it's history. read more

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great experience love the staff attitude and clean place and positive vibes and the energy was great i would recommend sending family and friends read more

Such a cool museum to check out historical martial arts weapons, clothing and tools. Love the movie items as well. The proprietor is so helpful and knowledgeable. Definitely recommend for anyone even if they are a martial arts novice. Fun experience for all ages. read more

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The Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, located on an unassuming side street, is one of my favorite small, not-to-be-missed cultural icons of Los Angeles! Learn and view everything about the different ethnicities and styles that have contributed to make this such an interesting study. Michael Matsuda, the founder, is a font of information and enthusiasm. Glendale's free nearby parking just one block away makes it all very easy, too. Check hours of operation before you visit. read more

Fun little museum. Very friendly owner. Some great historical items! Takes about an hour to see everything, but worth the trip if you love martial arts. read more

I had time on my hand after a business meeting and I found this beautiful little gem of Burbank. I didn't know that this existed! I grew up as a Bruce Lee fan! Karate shoes and all... read more

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I stumbled upon this museum and wasn't disappointed. It's a very small museum but I spent at least an hour here. All the videos were interesting. The first video showed different film clips and it made me realize how pervasive martial arts is in popular culture and film, cartoons, anime, animation, etc. You will definitely learn something new if you come here and there are interesting weapons to see. Check their calendar for events and screenings. read more

Honestly, I don't think you can have more fun for $10 anywhere else in the greater LA area. It's a nice time and there's a lot of neat stuff to look at and the people who run the place are very friendly. I had a blast. read more

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The Martial Arts History Museum is my favorite museum I've ever visited. Founded by the knowledgeable and passionate Michael Matsuda, who is often present, sharing his extensive expertise in martial arts, the museum offers a truly fascinating experience for the entire family. Michael's personal touch and dedication to the museum make each visit unique and enriching, as he provides insights and stories that bring the exhibits to life. read more

Don't let the small size fool you! The museum is full of fun, interesting things. Upon entering, you are greeted by the friendly President of the museum, Mr. Michael Matsuda. I've spoken to him a few times; he's very knowledgeable and down to earth. There is something here for anyone who has any interest in martial arts, regardless of style. I have practiced different styles (such as Aikido, Kenpo Karate, and Northern Shaolin Kung Fu); I found something for each art I practiced before. I was also surprised to see Professional Wrestling being mentioned, which I am a big fan of. They have an annual convention called Dragon Fest. It features famous martial arts (including movie stars), martial arts goods, performances, and seminars. I have been to it twice, and love it each time! The museum is temporarily closed as of now (12/12/20) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can always check out (and subscribe to) their official YouTube channel. They also have books and DVD's on Amazon. Once the pandemic is over, I plan to visit the museum immediately! read more

Amazing Museum to learn about the influence of martial arts in our culture! Perfect for kids and adults. Is small so you can see everything in five minutes, but we were very interested and spent almost two hours. My kids really wanted to complete the scavenger hunt :) Can't wait to attend one of their special events! read more

Really great museum for Martial Arts. It's fun to walk through anytime but they also have really awesome events with Hollywood people, martial arts masters, book signings, and other stuff. It's a great nexus for martial artists. Should check it out. read more

A huge "Thank You" to Michael Matsuda for creating this Martial Arts History Museum. I brought my students, including my son, and all had a great experience. The entire place presents a timeline relatable to all martial arts practitioners and would be a nice introduction to beginners or people generally interested in history and/or the history of martial arts. Parking is in the structure to the right of the museum. We will definitely take another trip out there in the near future. The kids also have a fact finding activity when you reach the end of the exhibits. Awesome gem in Burbank. read more

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If you're a martial arts nerd like me, this pocket-sized museum is worth a visit. It's so small that you can actually read all the informational placards on the exhibits and still get out in under an hour. However, it's a clean, well-maintained and curated collection of uniforms, armor and weapons from the world's major martial traditional arts systems. There is also a section devoted to martial arts in the media, which showcases several props and costumes from well-known movies and TV shows. I don't know that there is enough to warrant more than one visit, but I still enjoyed checking it out. read more

My nephew was back in town so we thought we'd stop by while we were in the area on Friday. Closed again with no mention on the website. Tried calling and knocking on the door through the gate. read more

What a nice little gem this place is! This place is amazing and if you even have MINIMAL interest in martial arts, this museum will take it to the next level. Whether you're a geek into anime and weapons or someone who is curious about a world of martial arts discovery, this place is super awesome. I would say that depending on how much you decide to read, you can spend a nice hour or so learning about the origins of many different types of MA from different regions... And how it's featured, introduced into the States. Also lots of relics via Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, actually MA gear, and a Mortal Kombat Shield! They are soon to expand and put in more stuff (I hope) so go in on this. I would visit this place again in a heartbeat. Also, very nice customer service. Friendly at the door and they gave me cute stickers on the way out! read more

As a martial arts fanatic, this place was amazing! I couldn't help but be in awe over how dedicated this museum was to the martial arts community and history of all martial arts! If you love martial arts, are a martial artist or just enjoy history, you'll definitely enjoy this Gem! 10/10 read more

My wife and I attended an event here today and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was our first time visiting the museum. Said to be the only museum of its kind, it provides a highly educational, entertaining experience. Even my wife (who has no real knowledge of martial arts) was intrigued. The exhibits and manifold artifacts are beautifully displayed. The owner is very welcoming and friendly. read more

Not my usual area of interest I'll admit, but that said, I found this to be a very fascinating and educational stop. I loved seeing the movie props, references to TMNT, and of course, the weaponry. I spent about an hour here. Seems like a great place to take kids as well. Admission was $10. Street parking is available. The Bearded Lady Mystic Museum is not far from here. read more

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I surprised my boyfriend by taking him here. He loves Martial Arts and Hong Kong cinema. We loved it. I got a great deal on homerun.com (If you're not using yipit.com, do it, I get a list of deals sent to my mailbox everyday that includes groupon and living social). I paid $6 for an admission of 2. The owner Michael mentioned that they just put up a groupon deal, so I'm assuming that they post deals frequently. The owner Michael is very nice. He welcomed us and shared a lot of information. This place is small, but unique. I learned a lot about Martial Arts. I didn't know that the Phillipines has it's own form of Martial Arts. The exhibit is mostly reading, but it's an easy read. They also have monitors that play a 5 minute video of each country. They have various events through out the year, so check their website. read more

the place is quite small there was no room to wiggle my balls. Well, I respect the facts and info posted on the wall. It is good for those who are new to martial arts, to explore or learn that there are so many different arts and styles from different parts of the world. The museum covered; Kung fu (animal styles) and weapons from China. Karate, judo, jujitsu, zumo, samurai and ninja weapons from Japan. Taekwondo and weapons from Korea. Lua, Hawaiian / Polynesian arts and weapons. Kali, knives, arnis sticks of fillipine arts. Muay Thai, swords from Thailand. Krav maga of Israel Older kick boxing champs Hall of fame. Like the jet, superfoot, chuck Norris. MMA fighters and the pioneers of the sports. Chuck Liddell and etc. Martial arts of Hollywood and movies. Jackie chan, Bruce lee, Elvis and etc. T-shirts, hats, and other suvioniorer items. I don't think I've seen any coverage or display of wing chun, VoVinam, sambo/ systema, srilant, kalaripayattu, capoeira, greco roman wrestling, western boxing, Aikido, dambe, and savate. Was I impressed? Urrrr ... Some what. I guessed it's a once in a life time experience, and may not go back again. read more

The Martial Arts History Museum is an awesome little place that packs in a lot of info. They use their limited space very well. We were greeted at the door by a very friendly gentleman that informed us about upcoming workshops/classes (a samurai sword class!) and new additions to the museum (props from "Kung Pow" - gopher-chucks!). The museum has a lot of really cool artifacts (all donated!!!) and videos/posters (and a big timeline) discussing the history/uses. Their displays of swords, ninja weapons and samurai armor were impressive. I especially liked the Hawaiian portion, with weapons made with shark teeth! There was another family there during our visit. The man at the entrance (the owner?) gave the kids in the family a scavenger hunt to do around the museum, giving them a sticker upon completion. At the end of the exhibits, there's a larger screen with a compilation of martial arts in the media (movies, TV, comics) playing. As I was watching this, the man came over and offered me the scavenger hunt so I wouldn't feel left out. I got my sticker! :-) Other notes: - It's super cheap and they thrive on donations - totally worth it - Free street parking in the surrounding neighborhood - I wish they had more on Tony Jaa in the Thai portion - he's incredible! I really cute (and informative!) establishment with incredibly friendly (and knowledgeable!) people. A fun way to spend a few hours. read more

I visited the Martial Arts History Museum yesterday afternoon: A good idea, well executed, and a great value for the $6 admission price!! It's located right off the freeway in a nice neighborhood with plenty of parking... For Kids: It's got plenty of colorful neat historical items that could get a child interested in the Martial Arts. They will enjoy the uniforms, weapons, movie posters and movie clips...It's really got something that the whole family can appreciate. For adult practitioners of the "Traditional" arts: Oddly, in the "age of information"....where everything is seemingly a "Google search" away; I find that students, as well as some teachers, currently know very little about their own arts---much less the arts and styles from other countries. This is a great place to have fun, be entertained, learn, and fill in the gaps. Even with the Internet; a lot of the information can be misleading or inaccurate. There is a lot of misinformation out there....and often times what passes for "history" or "truth" was written with a bias or an agenda; since emotions, ego or money may be involved. "The Martial Arts Museum" is just that: a "Museum"....you will not sense any bias or agenda. No one person, country, art, or style is given extraordinary amount of floor or wall space in an effort to sway the attendee in one direction or another. For adult practitioners of MMA: Although everyone's experiences are different; I have personally found that UFC fans and MMA practitioners tend to have some false preconceived notions and may feel as though: "real" or "effective" Martial Arts somehow started in the mid 1990's? The Martial Arts Museum is a great place to go and digest the timelines and the arts that these different cultures spawned out of necessity. Yes, The U.S.A. and MMA are represented at the museum as well, but perhaps more importantly; you may see that your favorite MMA star and the moves that he uses can be traced directly back to the arts and people you'll read about and see here at these exhibits... The owner Michael I did learn a few new things from the various artifacts and exhibits. But for me, I truly enjoyed meeting and talking with Museum Founder and President Michael Matsuda. I was genuinely impressed with his knowledge, passion, experience and interest in the arts. I probably bored the hell out of the poor guy asking him so many questions, but he was very gracious and accommodating. The guy has forgotten more about Martial Arts---than I'll ever know. When you are in a city with such a rich Martial Arts History as Burbank---it only makes sense to stop into The Martial History Museum and take a tour! read more

I bought my tickets on LivingSocial which was $6 for two adults. It was well worth the deal and it turned into a great idea for a casual date night. The museum is small and compacted with loads of information on martial arts. It is the first museum dedicated to martial arts. They have monthly events such as languages classes or martial art movies screen (which some actors do come out). It takes about 45 minutes to walk through the museum, but reading everything they had was about an hour and a half (including the mini scavenger hunt). Free 2 hour parking on the streets in front of the museum. You might miss it since it's a super small building, but if you're coming from the freeway it's on your right hand-side, before the gas station. I love it, probably going to go back again one day! read more

Preserving the history that is quickly fading. Excited to see the growth so more items can be displayed!

Awesome place! Admittedly, I am not a martial arts person, but, I have a deep appreciation for history, culture, and learning new things. My fiance is extremely passionate about martial arts, as he practices it. We were watching a documentary on Netflix called, "The Real Miyagi," which is how we found out about this place. Located in Burbank, this place is small but certainly worth checking out! The pricing is very reasonable, as most museums are costly. Upon arrival, the owner or president greeted us at the front. He was extremely friendly and we chatted for a bit. It cost us $10 each for the entry, which in my opinion is fantastic for the amount of things you get to see. The place starts off with the beginnings of martial arts, and moves into various sections of the world presenting different types of martial arts. It goes into anime and how martial arts has been incorporated and introduced into the United States. At each section, there is a video introducing you to what you are viewing. It is like you are getting your own private tour. What is amazing is that there are displays of various weapons, clothing, and artifacts. They even have the headband of the Karate Kid, Elvis Presley's karate uniform that he actually wore, and countless items from famous movies. So, even if you aren't into martial arts, it is extremely interesting because of all the artifacts and items. I highly recommend coming in to check this place out. Other perks? They have nice bathrooms. It may sound silly, but I places with nice bathrooms is a huge plus for me. The place is very clean, and has air conditioning to for those hot days! Last time we visited, we were told that they are trying to expand. We're excited and hope they do! So, check this place out! read more

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We (3 adults and one 8 year old) went today. We found a Groupon coupon that got all four of us in for $9! Whoo hoo! The museum is very small, but it has some great exhibits. The martial arts are broken down by country which is pretty cool. Exhibits on China, Japan, The Philippines, Thailand, etc. have information, videos, full on samurai armor and tons of weapons. There is even a different display for ninjas than for samurai which is nice. The museum makes an effort to include pop culture references and talks about martial arts all the way from China to today's mixed martial arts. An effort seems to have been made to include women and Black people in the exhibits! A few images of anime and cartoons that use martial arts are also there. One of the things we liked best was a timeline near that ceiling that covered movies (Lone Wolf and Cub/ Karate Kid), comic books, cartoons (Hong Kong Fooey!) as well as specific martial arts history. We thought we were done and the owner, Mike, came over and provided the child in our group with a scavenger hunt paper! It gave us an opportunity to read through the exhibits a bit more thoroughly. When the child was done we went to front to turn it in and the child received a huge "A+" on his paper and a sticker to wear on his shirt. This is a great little museum for those of us that have enjoyed martial arts over the years. read more

Very cool, one of a kind museum dedicated to the rich history of the martial arts and Asian Culture. Here you will see displays and videos representing the various fighting systems from around the world including Japan & Okinawa, China, Thailand, Korea, Hawaii, The Philippines, and more. Also, there is a section dedicated to martial arts in the media where they have movie props on display including "Daniel-San's" head-band from "The Karate Kid" film. The Martial Arts History Museum is the brain-child of Michael Matsuda, who is also a life-long martial artist and a Master of Kung Fu. He is almost always on site and is very friendly and knowledgeable. Only $10 admission, check it out! read more

Great museum! Spent about an hour and a half reading the history of Martial arts. Learned so much. read more

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Man the artifacts from the movies here, the history, the anime, the props - everything about this place is amazing! The owner Michael Matsuda is very kind, wonderful experience being here! Seriously great if you have any interest in martial arts cinema or martial arts in general read more

There is a compelling reason to bring together the history and culture of the various martial arts and the Martial Arts History Museum is off to a good start. There are a number of unique items and memorabilia on display. Through a series of seminars and presentations the public can learn about specific periods, arts and techniques. These events serve as an entry point for people curious about the martial arts and as a forum for discussion and sharing for experienced visitors. read more

Truly a hidden gem. History comes alive with all the knowledge and artifacts that are in the museum. A small $6 donation is well worth it! Good for families, couples and random walk ins (like i was). Sign up for their email list and you have the chance to see movie premiers, participate in martial arts clinics and much much more. Museum is small but full of life (many things i didn't know about) read more

The Martial Arts History Museum is the 1st and only museum of its kind in California! I commend President "Michael Matsuda" for his vision, hard work and passion for starting this special place 20 years ago. I would say it is a unique and a dynamic place with so much history. Highly recommended!! read more

What a local gem! The guy running the front of the museum was very nice and helpful. After you check in with him, you can just freely walk about the museum with your own pace, but when he saw us eyeing the samurai swords, he came over and gave us a brief lesson about them, which was very informative and cool, but he didn't hang around too long to seem smothering or anything. The museum itself is in a somewhat small space, but they utilize it well and they have a lot to offer for the exhibit itself. They also have a 'martial arts in film' section that was really great too. Apparently they do screenings and classes on occasion, so it is definitely a great resource for martial artist fans! read more

Wonderful, thorough representation of the world's Martial Arts. Also some lesser known arts such as Lua from Hawaii and Kali from the Phillipines. And the owner is supernice too. read more