M aster Ma Kin Fung was born in Toi San, Guangdong, the son of a merchant who conducted business affairs in Canada. From an early age, Ma Kin Fung was keen to learn Chinese martial arts. His dream became reality while he was a high student in Guangzho, when he befriended a classmate whose father was the famous Kung Fu Master Wong Tak Hing, from the Northern Province. Upon noticing Ma Kin Fung’s eagerness to learn, and being impressed by his natural talents, intelligence, and gracious personality, Master Wong was happy to make him his student and teach him everything he knew about Chinese martial arts.

From the beginning of his training, Ma Kin Fung studied and practiced rigorously both day and night in order to learn all of the internal and external martial art forms. He became skilled in many of the famous forms, including Tai Chi Moon Grind hand form, sword form, Shaolin Law Hon Fist and Plum Blossom Fist. He also excelled at various weapon styles particularly the swinging chain and the dart forms.

Years later, during the Sino Japanese War, Master Ma joined the army, Due to the chaotic period of time, he eventually lost contact with Master Wong. In recollection, Master Ma would always sigh, felling badly that he never saw his Sifu again due to the circumstances of his life at that turbulent time in history.

In order to benefit from other teaching styles, Master Ma later learned from two other famous masters of Northern style martial arts: Koo Yue Cheung and Suen Yuk Fung. Returning home in 1936, he discovered that Japan had invaded China. Consequently, Master Ma decided that it was his duty to use his martial arts skills to help his country. He promoted martial arts in the Say Yup Countires by establishing the Kun Wah Broadsword Team Training Association, the Jun Keung Kung Fu Club, and the Lap Wah Kung Fu Club. As a result of these successful Kung Fu clubs, awareness of the Northern martial arts styles increased dramatically in Southern China.

In 1941, Master Ma Kin Fung was appointed the martial arts trainer for the Toi San Police Station. Two years later he became the military martial arts trainer. After World War II, he returned to Guangzhou and established Long Chong Fist Kung Fu Club before going to Hong Kong to become the trainer for the Hak Keung Gymnasium, and the martial arts coach of Ling Dong Secondary school.

In Hong Kong, Master Ma always performed martial arts demonstrations at the youth association, the Sow Den and the Queen Elizabeth stadiums for charity fundraising events. He performed many of the famous styles such as the Tai Chi (grind) hand form, Ba Gua Sword, double chains, and the famous Plum Blossom hand form. These amazing performances always received loud applause from the audience. For charity fundraising events, he and his students performed without pay, demonstrating the Law Hon style (getting an attacker’s weapon with his bare hands), double broadswords fighting with a spear, Law Hong hand sparring, and the fourth Law Hon fist form. These performances were excellent and a special treat for anyone who had the good fortune to see them.

Most importantly, Master Ma was very enthusiastic to promote martial arts. He grew to be very well known in Southern China and in the martial arts community in general for more then twenty years. His dedication to endorse the Northern style in particular gained him many good students in China and overseas.

Physically, Master Ma Kin Fung was a very strong and handsome man, with a good muscular frame. He had a lot of class, treated people well, and always greeted others gracefully like a gentleman, not a boxer. On occasions, he also enjoyed the taste of wine. Over a cup of wine, he took pleasure in sharing with his students stories about the past, culture and politics; and discussing current affairs, world issues, and of course martial arts. He spoke not only about fighting, but also about the virtues of studying martial arts and the spiritual and moral dimensions. His advice to students was meant to enlighten them to realize the virtues of what being a good martial artist meant and how to develop their own good qualities as individuals

Master Ma’s biographer admired and respected him a great deal. He valued not only his excellent martial arts skills, but also his congenial personality. In comparing Master Ma’s ability and influence to other martial artists, he believed that one did not see his level of skill very often, it was so rare. In other words, Master Ma Kin Fung was extremely special, unforgettable and irreplaceable, and the author stressed that “ he will be missed very much by many people.” In the words of his biographer: “The purpose of writing this paper is to express my feelings and show respect to a great man. I attempt to share good things about good people such as Master Ma Kin Fung by writing them, however inadequate the written words can fully convey these feelings.”

Translated from a published article of an interview dated 1955