Ma Kensei is a master of all Chinese Kenpō and a senior instructor at Ryōzanpaku Dojo. Originally from China, he founded and led the Phoenix Martial Artists Alliance, an organization boasting approximately 100,000 followers. He relinquished leadership to his wife, finding the responsibilities burdensome, and moved to Japan where he runs an acupuncture clinic. Married with three children, his daughter Renka Ma visits him occasionally. His family includes an older brother, Sōgetsu Ma, who joined the antagonistic organization Yami, and an uncle named Ryō.

Physically, Kensei presents as a short, middle-aged man with a balding head, usually covered by a hat, and sports a distinctive long, pointed mustache. He favors traditional Chinese martial arts attire. In his youth, he was notably taller, possessed long braided hair, and was considered exceptionally handsome, attracting significant female attention.

Kensei's personality is marked by persistent lecherous behavior, including attempts to photograph women like Shigure Kōsaka and Miu Fūrinji, often provoking their anger. He developed the "Ma Style Restriction Technique," which restrains female opponents using their own clothing. He frequently sells Kenichi Shirahama questionable photo collections, such as ones featuring Miu or his pet mouse Tōchūmaru instead of the promised content. Despite this, he exhibits wisdom, kindness, and laments the violent misuse of martial arts, desiring a more peaceful world. He strictly adheres to the principle of Katsujin-ken (life-saving fist), preferring non-lethal incapacitation and reserving lethal force only for master-level opponents. Kenichi holds deep respect for him, citing unwavering trust in his teachings. Kensei habitually exclaims "Chowa" during combat and is the sole Ryōzanpaku master skilled in cooking, primarily preparing Chinese cuisine. He addresses fellow masters with the suffix "-don".

Martially, Kensei possesses mastery of all Chinese Kenpō styles, armed and unarmed, favoring soft-style techniques. His capabilities include extraordinary speed, agility, and balance, demonstrated by feats like leaping between moving vehicles. He wields extensive medical knowledge specializing in acupuncture, herbal remedies, and resuscitation. His combat acumen allows swift assessment of opponents' styles, and his interests have incidentally honed his photography skills.

Historically, Kensei encountered the Three-Headed Dragon—Kaku Shin Ten, Chou Yin Lin, and Yo Tekai—of the rival Black Tiger White Dragon Alliance. After effortlessly defeating their assault on his school, he recognized their potential, especially Kaku's, and offered apprenticeship. Kaku refused, fostering enduring hatred. During the D of D tournament, Kenichi publicly denounced Kensei's perversion but affirmed unwavering faith in his mastery; Kensei later tended the Three-Headed Dragon's injuries and gifted them a Phoenix Alliance emblem, hoping for redemption.

In the Master-Disciple Tag Match arc, Kensei fought Diego Carlo, exploiting the latter's grounding in Chinese Kenpō to overcome his aerial lucha libre tactics. He disabled Diego non-lethally but expressed regret over the necessary force. Later, in Okinawa, he dueled Kyōken no Iyazoi, using his restriction technique to disrobe her, intending to "shatter the armor around her heart" rather than inflict physical harm, emerging victorious while fighting single-handedly.

Kensei intervened to protect Kenichi from Li Tenmon, a Yami associate. His relationship with his brother Sōgetsu culminated in a fierce battle where Kensei prioritized rescuing Kenichi and Renka over Sōgetsu's fate in a burning building, highlighting his familial loyalty. After Yami's defeat, he continued mentoring at Ryōzanpaku, with indications of Sōgetsu resuming martial arts practice.