Hidden Gems: Meet Michael Matsuda of The Martial Arts History Museum

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Matsuda.

Michael, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Let me provide some personal info, then I will add the museum’s info from the website:

I began the museum in 1999. It was never my dream to start a museum, I simply wanted to preserve history. But like Walt Disney who created Disney because of visiting a run down park with his kids, the Martial Arts History Museum became my dream.

I have been doing the martial arts for over 60 years, writing for the magazines and books but it was a museum I felt, would best serve our entire martial arts community worldwide. No one had ever done it.

With help from all my friends in the arts, we began a traveling museum on a shoestring budget. It was a huge struggle and in time, would cost me my job and my home. But, as my wife and I struggled through, we made something amazing, a museum, the only museum in the world of its kind, keeping history alive. It’s been 26 years since we began and still going strong. The struggle hasn’t ended, but I think we did a good thing for the world.

So, here we are in Glendale, making a whole new start in a new, bigger location. Imagine what we can do next.

OK, here is the info from the website:

THE MISSION OF THE MUSEUM
The mission of the Martial Arts History Museum is to promote an appreciation of America’s cultural diversity by using the martial arts as its gateway into sharing how Asian history became part of American history. It is not a who’s who of the martial arts, neither is it a sports museum, rather, it is an educational facility teaching visitors about art, culture, history, and tradition.

CULTURE AND TRADITION
At the Museum, we strive to enlighten visitors about the arts, culture, dance, music and tradition. As a martial artists, we celebrate our connection to music and artistry. Through unique artwork, photographs, musical instruments and artifacts, we connect the martial arts to its roots and the positive influence it continues to make on the world.

HISTORY
The Museum serves as the only museum dedicated to keeping the history of the martial arts alive. We are the only one of its kind in the world and we do our best to ensure that history won’t be lost or worse, forgotten forever. Through our collection of artifacts, historical photographs, uniforms of pioneers and more, we preserve the sacrifices that so many made coming to the West.

LEADERSHIP
The Martial Arts History Museum was founded by former magazine publisher Michael Matsuda. An accomplished author, he is considered one of the leading historians for martial arts history in America. He was the former Media Manager for Blue Cross of California and Cal Fed Bank. He is the producer for a variety of commercials and was selected twice for “Producer of the Year” for Producer Magazine and also graced its cover. He was nominated for an EMMY for his producing work on the El Rey Network. He has been the president of the Museum for 26 years. He is also the coordinator of the Dragonfest Expo and was the coordinator for three Regional Karate Championship tournaments. He has produced three additional conventions including the San Fernando Valley Health Fair. A former Disney artist, he has designed most of the Museum.

LONGEVITY
The Martial Arts History Museum has been in operation for 26 years. It is a fully active non-profit 501c3 organization. It began as a traveling exhibit and landed into an actual structure around 2008. The Museum has been consistent in its goals of not only keeping cultural history alive, but also servicing the local community. The Museum continues to hold events, workshops, seminars, movie screenings, book signings, health classes, cpr courses, women’s empowerment and more.

SERVICING THE COMMUNITY
It’s important that we, the Martial Arts History Museum, reach out to the community and those who are in need. Look, let me put this plainly. We are a small museum, we don’t have the millions of dollars that these larger museums get, we don’t get the grants that they get, but even though, we still feel it’s important to give back, to help those we can help, to make an impact on ourselves and the community.

– The first Thursday of the month, from 3 pm to 6 pm, we provide free entrance to the community. This way all those who cannot afford the entrance fee, can still have the opportunity to enjoy the Museum.
– We provide a number of free courses for those who have lost their job and looking for different areas of work. For example, in the past, we have provided learning pyrography, how to write a book, using photoshop, etc.
– Over the years, the Martial Arts History Museum have collected uniforms and given to children in underserved communities
– The Martial Arts History Museum provide special free visits to the Museum to those physically and mentally challenged
– The Martial Arts History Museum also provide special free visits to Senior Organizations
– The Martial Arts History Museum provide special tours for those groups that focus on Alzheimer and Deminsia
– The Martial Arts History Museum provides special events such as Anti-Asian Hate Days with methods of protecting yourself
– The Martial Arts History Museum also conducts yearly anti-bully lectures and workshops
– The Martial Arts History Museum also host special dates for Women’s Empowerment courses
– It is our goal if we can raise the funds to move into a new location, to provide special Tai Chi courses for our seniors, health classes and more.

SUSTAINABILITY
The Museum has been fortunate enough to be supported by the martial arts community. Through numerous small donations each month, the museum has continued to function. We do receive grants but because we are not a large location, we cannot apply for large funding. We continue to host events such as our Dragonfest Expo, our charity auctions, and visitation, we are able to keep our doors open for 24 years.

OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE
We are working hard toward an even larger facility that will allow us to not only house the historical artifacts, but also provide an opportunity to create a Resource Center so the world can access historical information. We hope to create a seminar area so that we conduct a number of health classes, courses for the elderly, women’s self-defense and other workshops. It is our goal to create a store in order to keep the museum operational. It is our goal to purchase a facility so that the Museum will continue 100 years from now.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The museum has never been easy. Since day one, it has been a struggle. Though people love what we are doing, it’s hard to get them to commit by making a donation. I had hoped our big stars in the martial arts would be on board such as Chuck Norris, Jackie Chan, Steven Seagal, Donnie Yen, Tony Jaa, Sammo Hung, Jean Claude and even those who love the arts such as Quentin Taratino and so many more, but sadly, none of them have given a dime or even visited the museum. I think that’s really sad and it shows it was never about the arts but about them.

We have little kids giving their allowances, we have people who struggle month to month and yet, they give. It is us, the public, the little guys, who have kept this museum going with a bunch of small donations. To me, these are the pioneers of this museum.

My wife and I sold our home so that we could have a museum for all to enjoy. It was a huge, huge sacrifice that my wife suggested. We lived in a small box above the garage for 15 years until we finally moved to Glendale. I sacrificed my job to operate this facility.

I have never taken a salary and instead, giving it to the museum to succeed.

I always say, I have the desire of Walt Disney but imagine, imagine if I had the funds behind me, what great things I can do.

Grants is another struggle. We fill them out constantly but maybe get a small one every two years. I was told by one of the grantors, if they don’t know you, you aren’t getting the grant and they were right.

I am thrilled to death to have this museum, but I think we can do greater things with support.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Martial Arts History Museum?
We are the only museum of its kind in the world. We are the home of the martial arts worlwide and the home of the official Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

Integrity. That’s what its about. We have done everything possible to ensure the museum is as accurate as possible. Since I am one of the last historians of the martial arts, it is up to me to keep our history alive.

But more than that, the museum’s focus has always been on Asian culture. Asian art, Asian music, Asian tradition and how it connects with the martial arts and how it made an effect throughout Asian and into America and the world.

Though martial arts is in the title, it’s more than that. I didn’t want a punch and kick museum, nor a who’s who, though it does have that, I wanted young kids to learn about different cultures and traditions. This way, we make a stand in stopping hatred and prejudice.

The museum does a lot of humanitarian work and that also sets us apart. We work a lot with adults who are mentally challenged and those suffering from dementia. We host blood drives, anti-bullying and fighting Asian hate.

I think we do a lot for the city of Glendale and I hope they will appreciate that. I truly hope the city sees how much we invested into the museum and how many people we bring from other countries, to visit the museum.

I want your readers to know we are making a difference. We are having an effect on this community.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My dad was the leader of a YMCA group called the Stringrays. I was very proud of him how he held the meetings, how he went to many families’ home to convince them to join the Y. I admired him for his commitment to all the kids and for how he encouraged them. He was like a Tommy Lasorda for the Dodgers. That is a great memory.

And I loved my mom, who was the most popular woman in the community. A dedicated seamstress, she made time for her friends to come over every night, sitting, drinking coffee and smoking, and telling stories. I loved how her friends loved her and how much she did for her friends.

Those are my great childhood memories.

Pricing:

• Museum entrance – $12 adults, $5 kids.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://MAmuseum.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/martialartsmuseum/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/martialartshistorymuseum
• Twitter: https://x.com/mamuseum
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@martialartshistorymuseum
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/martial-arts-history-museum-glendale-2?osq=Martial+Arts+History+Museum&dd_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yelp.com%2F

Image Credits
All photos by Michael Matsuda.