Kensei Ma, a master of Chinese Kenpō at Ryōzanpaku dojo originally from China, once led the large Phoenix Alliance martial arts organization. He relinquished leadership to his wife, finding it burdensome, and now runs an acupuncture clinic in Japan. His family includes a wife, three children, and a daughter, Renka Ma, who sought him out in Japan. He maintains a complex relationship with his older brother, Sōgetsu Ma, who later joined the antagonistic Yami organization as "One Shadow Nine Fists" bearing the moon symbol.

Currently a short, middle-aged man with a balding head typically concealed by a hat and a distinctive long, pointed mustache, Kensei favors traditional Chinese martial arts attire. During his youth, he possessed a dramatically different appearance—tall, physically imposing, and considered exceptionally handsome with long braided hair, earning significant popularity among women.

Kensei exhibits notable personality contradictions. He frequently engages in lecherous behavior, including covert photography of female dojo members like Shigure Kōsaka and Miu Fūrinji, often attempting to sell compiled photo books. He developed the "Ma Style Restriction technique" to disrobe female opponents during combat, actions that routinely provoke retaliatory traps near bathing areas, though they fail to deter him. Despite this, he demonstrates perceptive insight into adolescent psychology, offering guidance to disciple Kenichi Shirahama during self-doubt. He exhibits genuine kindness and wisdom, expressing sorrow over martial arts' violent applications and preferring non-lethal combat resolution except against master-level opponents. He appends "don" to fellow masters' names and exclaims "Chowa!" during fights.

As China's foremost martial artist, Kensei commands absolute proficiency in all armed and unarmed Chinese Kenpō styles, with particular mastery of soft-form techniques. His combat prowess includes extraordinary speed for closing distances, executing strike barrages while distracted, and physical attributes like exceptional flexibility, balance, and core strength enabling attack absorption and vehicular acrobatics. His medical expertise encompasses acupuncture for pain relief or paralysis, herbal remedies, and trauma treatment, including reviving near-death patients. He possesses sharp perceptiveness, allowing instant combat style recognition and strategic persuasion, exemplified when convincing Kenichi to reside at Ryōzanpaku. Secondary skills include culinary mastery in Chinese cuisine and expert photography, evidenced by artistic childhood portraits of Miu.

Kensei shares a significant bond with Kenichi, who regards him as a father figure despite comedic mistreatment. Their relationship features mutual trust, with Kenichi never doubting Kensei's martial philosophy. Kensei occasionally exploits this trust, such as selling irrelevant photographs under false pretenses. He displays profound concern for Renka's safety and intense apprehension about his wife discovering his whereabouts, begging Renka not to inform her. He periodically assumes household cooking duties to spare Miu excessive chores.