Grandmaster Ma, Jie (Taoist name Yi Jiong Zi) is the current gatekeeper of Wudang Xuanmen Dan Pai. He was born in September of 1925 to a martial arts family in Tianjin, China. At the age of four, Grandmaster Ma began training in martial arts. When he turned six, he entered into Taoism and became a monk. At the age of eight, he was taken as a disciple of the great Wudang Taoist master Xuan Dan and began training on Wudang Mountain in Yu Zhen Palace which belonged to the founder of Wudang Martial Arts, Zhang, San-Feng. For over ten years, Grandmaster Ma, Jie was trained in Traditional Wudang Taiji, Taiji Push Hands, Qigong, Taoist Nei Dan Gong, healing arts, and other meditation practices.

After leaving the mountain, Grandmaster Ma returned to Tianjin, where he was taken as disciple of the famous internal martial arts master Han Mu-Xia. From Han Mu-Xia, he learned Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, and Dian Xue/Dim Mak (death points). While training with Han Mu-Xia, Grandmaster Ma acted as his assistant instructor. After Great Master Han's death, Grandmaster Ma, Jie succeeded him as headmaster of the Han Mu-Xia Martial Arts Academy. As headmaster, he taught students from all over China totaling more than 3,000 people.

In 1942, he built "Ying Wu She" (Outstanding Martial Artists Association) and served as its president. Over the next decade, Grandmaster Ma Jie entered many martial arts competitions. In these competitions he fought Japanese, Korean, and Russian boxers, wrestlers, and martial artists. In these years he won many gold and silver cups.

In 1946, Grandmaster Ma was designated by the Nanjing Central Martial Arts Academy(one of the most famous martial arts academies in China's history) to be the Vice-President of the Tianjin Branch of their Association. After this, Grandmaster Ma led his students and disciples to enter the "First Physical Education Festival Competition". They won many awards.

In 1952, Grandmaster Ma, Jie began teaching students in Tianjin's Hai He Square. It was around this time that he met and began training with great Master Meng, Xiao-Feng, the 11th Generation Gate Keeper of Traditional Wudang Dan Pai Wudang Sword. For more than twenty years, Grandmaster Ma trained with his master and was eventually taken as the master's only disciple. With great Master Meng, Xiao-Feng, Grandmaster Ma learned the complete set of Traditional Wudang Sword, the two-person fighting form, Wudang Flying Sword, and Wudang Sword Sparring. He became the only inheritor of the ancient Wudang Sword techniques.

During the years of the Cultural Revolution, Grandmaster Ma became a target of the Red Guards because of his high standing in Chinese martial arts. He was captured and seriously beaten, resulting in broken hands, a crushed foot, and a fractured spine. For over a year, no physician would treat him for fear of being blacklisted. During this time, Grandmaster Ma healed himself, using the techniques he had learned from his master on Wudang Mountain.

After the Cultural Revolution ended in 1975, little by little Grandmaster Ma began teaching again in public. Slowly the name of Ma Jie became known again. In 1989, at the invitation of the Wudang Mountain Taoist Association and the Wudang Boxing Techniques Research Association, Grandmaster Ma presented a paper titled "The Wonderful Application of Wudang Qigong Taiji" in the "First Conference on Theories and Approaches for Wudang Boxing". During this gathering, he won the Excellence Award.

In 1991, Grandmaster Ma became the Professor of the Department of Health at Tianjin Seniors University. For nine years as professor he taught Wudang health arts and had more than 1800 students.

After that, Grandmaster Ma set up the "Taiji Health Center" and the "Wudang Boxing and Wudang Sword Training Center" located at Tianjin University. He served as Head Coach and taught more than 2000 students from China and from around the world.

In 1991, Grandmaster Ma won the gold medal for demonstrating Wudang Dan Pai Wudang Sword in the First Wudang Cultural and Martial Arts Festival in Hubei, China.

In 1993, Grandmaster Ma won the Excellence Award for his paper on Wudang Qigong Taiji Chuan at the Second Annual Conference on the Studies of Theories and Approaches for Wudang Boxing.

In 1996, at the invitation of the China-Canada Culture Promoting Association, Grandmaster Ma traveled to Quebec, Canada, and taught Chinese Taoist Health Cultivation arts at Montreal's Montigo University. Also during this time he taught Wudang Tenderization Nei Gong, 8 Brocade in Bed Qigong, and Wudang Dan Pai Wudang Sword at the Liang Qi Chinese Martial Arts Association. Grandmaster Ma was given the title of International Coach by the Olympic Physical Education Center in Montreal.

In 1998, Grandmaster Ma won the Wudang Cup and the title of "Best Contributor for Wudang Martial Arts" in the Third Annual Research Conference on Theories and Approaches to Wudang Boxing held on Wudang Mountain.

In 1999, Grandmaster Ma won the Jing Ying Cup at the Wudang Famous Martial Artists Invitational Competition and was hired as Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Wudang Boxing Research Institute. He then competed at the Da Lian Wudang Boxing Technique Research Institute and won the Excellence Award. He was then hired as a consultant for the institute.

In 2000, Grandmaster Ma won the Hua Long Cup in the National Famous Wudang Martial Artists Invitational Competition. Later that year he was invited to Hong Kong by the Hong Kong Martial Arts Association to teach Wudang martial arts. He demonstrated Wudang Neigong Taiji and Wudang Taiji 13 Postures Push Hands. He was later given an award by the association.

In 2002, Grandmaster Ma, Jie was the Chief Judge at the Asian Pacific Traditional Martial Arts Exchange Competition and won the Gold Cup award for Outstanding Judge.

In 2003, Grandmaster Ma won the Top Level Gold Medal of "Jing Wu Cup" in the 2nd Annual National Outstanding Martial Arts School Competition and the Famous Martial Artists Invitational Competition.

Finally, in 2005, at the age of 80, Grandmaster Ma came out of retirement to compete in an international fighting tournament. He won first place and beat his competitor, the president of the Ukrainian Fighting Association, who, at 30 years old, was fifty years younger than Grandmaster Ma.

Grandmaster Ma, Jie has taken 32 including Master Chang, Wu Na and Dr. Lu, Mei-Hui who are the world leaders of his system outside of China.

Some of Grandmaster Ma, Jie's titles are as follows:

  • 4th Generation Gatekeeper of Wudang Xuan Men Dan Pai and 12th Generation Gatekeeper of Wudang Dan Pai Wudang Sword
  • National Top Level 10 Martial Arts Judge
  • High Level 7 Duan in Chinese Martial Arts Ranking System
  • Professor in Bo Hai Vocational & Technology College
  • Professor in Department of Health in Tianjin Seniors University
  • Head Coach of Wudang Boxing and Wudang Sword Training Center at Tianjin University
  • International Coach for Liang Qi Chinese Martial Arts Association in Montreal, Canada
  • Chairman of the Board of Wudang Neigong Research Institute in Tianjin
  • Vice President of Chinese Laymen Martial Artists Association
  • Honorary Chairman of Wu Han Chinese Wudang Boxing Techniques Research Association
  • Senior Consultant for Da Lian Wudang Boxing Technique Research Association
  • Consultant for Wudang Mountain Wudang Boxing Techniques Research Association
  • Consultant for Xing Yi, Bagua, and San Shou Research Association in Xian
  • Technical Consultant for Traditional Martial Arts Association in Kun Ming City in Yunnan
  • Consultant for Wudang Health Cultivation Association in Shanxi Province
  • Consultant for Qigong Research Association in Seniors University in Tianjin
  • Consultant for the International Yang Style Taiji Chuan Association's Hong Kong Headquarters
  • Professional Qigong Healer in Chinese Qigong Science Research Association

Grandmaster Ma's achievements have been reported in:

  • Wu Dang Magazine
  • Wu Hun Magazine (Soul of Martial Arts)
  • Jing Chu Wen Shu
  • Legends of the Past and Today
  • Tianjin Daily News
  • Tianjin Senior Daily News
  • National Qigong Newspaper In Japanese:
  • Martial Arts Magazine In Canada:
  • Overseas Chinese Newspaper
  • English Daily News
  • French Daily News TV/ Radio:
  • Tianjin Broadcasting Station
  • Yun Nan Broadcasting Station
  • Hong Kong Broadcasting Station
  • Taiwan Broadcasting Station
  • Canadian Broadcasting Station
  • Montreal Broadcasting Station
  • Kun Ming TV Station

Some of Grandmaster Ma's Publications:

  • Wudang Sword
  • Wudang Dan Pai Wudang Sword
  • Wudang Qigong Taiji Chuan
  • Wudang Neigong Taiji Chuan
  • Wudang Tenderization Neigong
  • Wudang Neigong Health Cultivation Eight Brocade in Bed
  • Wudang Taiji Ball Rotating Gong
  • Wudang Taiji Knee Rubbing Gong
  • Wudang Eye Brightening and Washing, Qi Collecting Gong
  • Wudang Xuan Men Dan Pai Nei Dan Gong
  • Meridian Regulating, Patting Gong
  • Wudang Taiji 13 Form Push Hands
  • Wudang Xuan Men Dan Pai Self Defense Qin Da Shu
  • Han Pai Xingyi 5 Elements Chuan
  • 5 Elements Engendering and Controlling Chuan

Grandmaster Ma's biography has been included in:

  • World Famous People Collection
  • Dictionary of Contemporary Chinese Martial Artists
  • Records of Contemporary People in the Chinese Martial Arts World
  • Names of Famous Chinese Folk Martial Artists
  • Record of Chinese Taiji Experts
  • Dictionary of Contemporary Chinese Qigong Healers
  • Famous Contemporary Chinese Qigong Doctors
  • Encyclopedia for Chinese Elite
  • Collection of Chinese Talents and Experts
  • Collection of 21st Century Talents
  • Dictionary of Chinese Experts
  • Collection of Famous Chinese People