OVA
Description
Kensei Ma is one of the six master martial artists who reside at the Ryozanpaku dojo, where he serves as the master of Chinese Kempo. He is a man of two very distinct sides: a lecherous, seemingly unserious old man on the surface, and a profoundly wise and powerful martial artist beneath.
In terms of background, Kensei was not always the short, balding figure seen in the present. In his youth, he was a tall, handsome, and charming man who was very popular with women. He was once the supreme leader of the Phoenix Alliance, an elite martial arts organization in China with over one hundred thousand followers. However, he found the responsibilities of leadership to be a nuisance and eventually abandoned his post, leaving his wife in charge, and moved to Japan. There, he operates a small acupuncture clinic to bring in income for Ryozanpaku. He has a wife and three children back in China, including a sixteen-year-old daughter named Renka Ma, who later follows him to Japan in an attempt to bring him home. He also has an older brother, Sougetsu Ma, a master of the killing fist who becomes a high-ranking member of the antagonistic organization Yami.
Kensei’s personality is defined by a stark contrast between his comical vices and his serious core. On a daily basis, he is most often seen attempting to take revealing photographs of the dojo's female residents, Miu Furinji and Shigure Kosaka, a habit that persists despite the violent retribution he regularly suffers. He is a sly and persuasive individual, having once convinced Kenichi to move into the dojo by playing on his feelings for Miu, and has even sold the young man some of his perverted photo collections. He often reads adult magazines, sometimes upside down or while balancing in odd positions, and has a habit of yelling "Chowa" during fights.
Beneath this perverted exterior, Kensei is exceptionally kind, wise, and deeply committed to the philosophy of Katsujinken, the "saving fist". He is saddened by the violent uses of martial arts, a perspective likely born from his estranged and tragic relationship with his brother. Despite his constant mistreatment of Kenichi, he cares for him like a father figure, and Kenichi has repeatedly stated he never doubts Kensei's abilities or his beliefs as a master. He is the only master at Ryozanpaku who can cook, often preparing meals when Miu is unavailable.
Kensei’s primary role in the story is as one of Kenichi's principal teachers, imparting techniques and philosophies of Chinese martial arts. He also serves as a source of comic relief, but his serious nature emerges when the dojo is threatened. His personal motivations are revealed through his family ties, particularly his conflict with his brother. He travels to Chinatown to confront Sougetsu, an event that forces his past as a former leader to collide with his present life. In battle, he believes in using the minimal necessary force, preferring to disable and capture opponents rather than kill them, though he makes exceptions when fighting other master-class martial artists.
Kensei shares several key relationships within the series. With Kenichi Shirahama, he acts as an instructor, a father figure, and a sly manipulator who often tricks him for his own amusement, yet their master-disciple bond is incredibly strong and built on mutual respect. With his daughter Renka, he has a difficult relationship due to his abandonment of the family; she pursues him to bring him home, and despite his cowardly attempts to flee, he clearly loves her deeply. The most pivotal relationship is with his brother Sougetsu, representing the philosophical clash between the saving fist and the killing fist, leading to a duel to the death that deeply affects Kensei.
In terms of development, Kensei's character largely serves to reveal hidden depths rather than undergo a dramatic transformation. The story peels back layers of his comical persona to reveal a legendary martial artist burdened by his past. His most significant development is the reconciliation of his past in China, coming to terms with his daughter's pursuit and confronting the legacy of his brother.
Kensei Ma is a master of all styles of Chinese Kempo, with a distinct preference for soft-style forms that use an opponent's force against them. Despite his unimposing stature, he is an immensely powerful fighter, recognized as one of the greatest martial artists in China, second only to his brother. He possesses immense speed and physical prowess, able to close distances in an instant and unleash devastating barrages of strikes. His medical knowledge is also profound; he uses acupuncture and herbal remedies to heal injuries, an ability he employs alongside his fellow master Akisame at the dojo's clinic. His perceptive abilities allow him to analyze an opponent's fighting style almost instantly, and he is an expert at using his environment to his advantage, once stating that while the sky may belong to Lucha Libre, the earth belongs to Chinese Kempo. His signature techniques often involve capturing or restraining opponents, including his perversely named "Ma-style Restriction Technique," which involves disarming and binding female opponents with their own clothing.
In terms of background, Kensei was not always the short, balding figure seen in the present. In his youth, he was a tall, handsome, and charming man who was very popular with women. He was once the supreme leader of the Phoenix Alliance, an elite martial arts organization in China with over one hundred thousand followers. However, he found the responsibilities of leadership to be a nuisance and eventually abandoned his post, leaving his wife in charge, and moved to Japan. There, he operates a small acupuncture clinic to bring in income for Ryozanpaku. He has a wife and three children back in China, including a sixteen-year-old daughter named Renka Ma, who later follows him to Japan in an attempt to bring him home. He also has an older brother, Sougetsu Ma, a master of the killing fist who becomes a high-ranking member of the antagonistic organization Yami.
Kensei’s personality is defined by a stark contrast between his comical vices and his serious core. On a daily basis, he is most often seen attempting to take revealing photographs of the dojo's female residents, Miu Furinji and Shigure Kosaka, a habit that persists despite the violent retribution he regularly suffers. He is a sly and persuasive individual, having once convinced Kenichi to move into the dojo by playing on his feelings for Miu, and has even sold the young man some of his perverted photo collections. He often reads adult magazines, sometimes upside down or while balancing in odd positions, and has a habit of yelling "Chowa" during fights.
Beneath this perverted exterior, Kensei is exceptionally kind, wise, and deeply committed to the philosophy of Katsujinken, the "saving fist". He is saddened by the violent uses of martial arts, a perspective likely born from his estranged and tragic relationship with his brother. Despite his constant mistreatment of Kenichi, he cares for him like a father figure, and Kenichi has repeatedly stated he never doubts Kensei's abilities or his beliefs as a master. He is the only master at Ryozanpaku who can cook, often preparing meals when Miu is unavailable.
Kensei’s primary role in the story is as one of Kenichi's principal teachers, imparting techniques and philosophies of Chinese martial arts. He also serves as a source of comic relief, but his serious nature emerges when the dojo is threatened. His personal motivations are revealed through his family ties, particularly his conflict with his brother. He travels to Chinatown to confront Sougetsu, an event that forces his past as a former leader to collide with his present life. In battle, he believes in using the minimal necessary force, preferring to disable and capture opponents rather than kill them, though he makes exceptions when fighting other master-class martial artists.
Kensei shares several key relationships within the series. With Kenichi Shirahama, he acts as an instructor, a father figure, and a sly manipulator who often tricks him for his own amusement, yet their master-disciple bond is incredibly strong and built on mutual respect. With his daughter Renka, he has a difficult relationship due to his abandonment of the family; she pursues him to bring him home, and despite his cowardly attempts to flee, he clearly loves her deeply. The most pivotal relationship is with his brother Sougetsu, representing the philosophical clash between the saving fist and the killing fist, leading to a duel to the death that deeply affects Kensei.
In terms of development, Kensei's character largely serves to reveal hidden depths rather than undergo a dramatic transformation. The story peels back layers of his comical persona to reveal a legendary martial artist burdened by his past. His most significant development is the reconciliation of his past in China, coming to terms with his daughter's pursuit and confronting the legacy of his brother.
Kensei Ma is a master of all styles of Chinese Kempo, with a distinct preference for soft-style forms that use an opponent's force against them. Despite his unimposing stature, he is an immensely powerful fighter, recognized as one of the greatest martial artists in China, second only to his brother. He possesses immense speed and physical prowess, able to close distances in an instant and unleash devastating barrages of strikes. His medical knowledge is also profound; he uses acupuncture and herbal remedies to heal injuries, an ability he employs alongside his fellow master Akisame at the dojo's clinic. His perceptive abilities allow him to analyze an opponent's fighting style almost instantly, and he is an expert at using his environment to his advantage, once stating that while the sky may belong to Lucha Libre, the earth belongs to Chinese Kempo. His signature techniques often involve capturing or restraining opponents, including his perversely named "Ma-style Restriction Technique," which involves disarming and binding female opponents with their own clothing.