Huo Ma 火馬
Noelle Conn is a Chan 禪 Master of the Mountain Way 山道. She is a Hong Kong born martial artist, scholar, author, yoga teacher, ceramics artist, chef, and devoted mother. Her Mountain name is Huo Ma 火馬, meaning “Fire Horse.”
For almost 50 years, Huo Ma has deeply immersed herself in the practice of the Chan Mountain Way 山道. Over twenty of those years, she dedicated herself to applying Chan principles to her own yoga practice. This profound and sustained integration eventually led her to develop her own unique methodology of practicing Chan through Yoga.
Huo Ma embarked on her martial arts journey in 1971. Her practice was later solidified through a formal, twenty-year “closed-door” apprenticeship under the renowned martial master and Chan 禪 mystic, Kwan Yuen Cheong 關潤昌.
Huo Ma is also a pioneer in multidisciplinary, multilingual research, specializing in the Chinese art of stealth, alongside its rich military history and cultural context. Recent findings have moved her attention to the origins of Chan Buddhism in China and its spread across the Sinosphere as a whole. Over the decades, she has dedicated herself to the exhaustive study of Chinese classics and ancient martial manuscripts. She has labored tirelessly to ensure accurate translations, cultivating a deep cultural understanding for future generations of both Chinese and international enthusiasts.
Notably, Huo Ma has conducted extensive sociological research within both the Chinese and Japanese underworlds. Her acceptance into these communities provided profound insights into the modern application of stealth methods, allowing her to compare contemporary underworld traditions with those of ancient history.
Beyond her research, Huo Ma has leveraged her extensive knowledge to spearhead specialized Chinese martial arts and mind training for children. Departing from the mundane routines of the past, she has transformed children’s classes into engaging, fulfilling activities that transcend traditional methods. Through this innovative approach, Huo Ma has made a profound impact, turning martial arts into a source of enjoyment and personal growth, ultimately shaping and positively influencing the lives of many young practitioners.
Huo Ma 火馬 continues her dedicated practice, researching historical manuscripts and exploring the profound depths of the Chan 禪 mind.
