Kensei Ma is a primary martial arts instructor at the Ryōzanpaku dojo. Originally from China, he formerly led the Phoenix Martial Artists Alliance, an organization of roughly 100,000 followers. He relinquished leadership to his wife, finding the role burdensome, and moved to Japan where he runs an acupuncture clinic with Akisame Kōetsuji. His family consists of a wife, three children – including his daughter Renka Ma – and an older brother, Sōgetsu. His relationship with Sōgetsu is strained due to Sōgetsu's involvement with the antagonistic organization Yami. Kensei lives in fear of his wife discovering his location in Japan, even begging Renka not to reveal it.

Physically, Kensei appears as a short, middle-aged man with a balding head, usually covered by a hat, and a distinctive long, pointed Chinese mustache. He favors traditional Chinese martial arts attire. This presents a stark departure from his youth, when he was taller, possessed long braided hair, and was widely regarded as an exceptionally handsome bishōnen popular with women.

His personality is predominantly marked by persistent lecherous behavior. He frequently attempts to take revealing photographs of women, especially Shigure Kōsaka and Miu Fūrinji, often provoking their anger. This conduct escalates in combat through his self-proclaimed "Ma Style Restriction technique," which involves disrobing female opponents. Despite this, he demonstrates genuine kindness and wisdom, expressing sadness over the violent misuse of martial arts and consistently prioritizing non-lethal force. He maintains a close, paternal bond with Kenichi Shirahama, employing clever tactics like leveraging Kenichi's affection for Miu to motivate his training. Kenichi explicitly states that Kensei's martial arts integrity remains unquestioned, valuing his guidance despite his flaws.

As a martial artist, Kensei holds mastery over all forms of Chinese Kenpō, encompassing armed and unarmed techniques, though he favors soft-style applications. His combat capabilities include immense speed for closing distances instantly or evading projectiles; remarkable physical prowess for feats like leaping between moving vehicles; refined techniques like Kakei for deflection; and specialized strikes known as "scrubs" that inflict internal muscle damage. He employs Rittoku No Kan, a heightened sensory perception, and channels inner strength to enhance durability. His medical expertise encompasses acupuncture for pain relief or paralysis, herbal remedies, and trauma treatment, occasionally referenced with hyperbolic claims. Beyond martial arts, he exhibits skilled photography and culinary proficiency, often cooking Chinese meals at Ryōzanpaku.

Key narrative involvements include training Kenichi in foundational techniques; confronting his brother Sōgetsu to rescue Renka; participating in the D of D tournament where he reconciles with former rivals Kaku, Chou, and Yo by offering his Phoenix Alliance insignia; engaging in a master-disciple tag match against Diego Carlo, whom he defeats by exploiting Chinese Kenpō's ground dominance; and clashing with Yami affiliates during the Okinawa arc. Throughout these events, his role as a mentor extends beyond physical training to offer Kenichi psychological support during self-doubt.

His character development subtly addresses his aging process, using exaggerated perversion as a coping mechanism for his faded youthful charm. His enduring commitment to Katsujinken—the principle of using martial arts to protect life—remains consistent, influencing Kenichi's ethical stance. Despite comedic flaws, his identity as a warrior, healer, and reluctant former leader underscores his narrative significance.