Bending
Bending is the name given to the art of manipulating the four elements: air, water, earth and fire. Not everyone is able to become a bender. It's something that you're born with. Depending on which nation the bender is born in dictates which element he/she can bend (for example, a bender born in the Earth nation would become an Earthbender). A bender can only manipulate his/her native element except for the Avatar who is able to bend all four elements.While bending is a fictional ability created for the show, the techniques and fighting moves used are based on real Chinese martial arts.
| Bryan: We knew we wanted the "magic" in our show to be different than the typical wand-wielding spell-casting fare. For us, it had to be natural and physical, with a source and rules and limitations - and most importantly it had to be a skill rather than just a power, something that a practitioner had to learn and strive for. We wanted the elemental "bending" to be based on authentic Chinese traditional martial arts, believing this would lend a beauty and resonance to the animation and the fictitious disciplines. |
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Firebending
Breathing is a very important aspect to both Northern Shaolin and Firebending in general. The techniques and movements require you to leap about using a lot of strength and force, which could quickly exhaust you and make you run out of breath. Firebending also comes from the breath. Firebenders inhale and can exhale fire in all directions.
The first Firebenders were the Dragons. An ancient tribe known as the Sun Warriors learned Firebending from them and the technique spread. Firebending also comes from the heart. It's deeply driven through strong emotions. Firebenders are required to meditate and keep their emotions balanced, otherwise they could lose control and destroy everything around them. Firebenders also derive power from the sun. They are at their most powerful when the sun is high in the sky.
An extension of Firebending is the ability to produce lightening. Only a very select few are capable of mastering this technique. It's the only Firebending technique not fuelled through emotion and requires a complete peace of mind. One mistake can cost you your life. It's also known as the "cold-blooded fire". A Firebender can separate the positive and negative energy surrounding us, which creates an imbalance. Since the energy wants to restore the balance, the positive and negative energies will come crashing together, creating lightening. The Firebender provides the release and guidance, aiming the lightening at their opponents.
Waterbending
Waterbending concentrates on the flow of energy and focuses less on strength and more on turning the opponent's own energy against them. Waterbenders are able to manipulate all phases of water, whether it's in liquid, solid or gas forms, which give the user a large variety of defensive moves. As opposed to firebending, waterbenders cannot simply produce water, but instead, must retrieve water from their surroundings.
The first waterbenders learned how to manipulate water by watching the moon push and pull the tides. In response, waterbending has a strong connection with both the moon and the ocean. Waterbenders are at their most powerful during a full moon. Waterbenders are the only ones who did not learn how to bend from an animal.
There are several extensions to waterbending. The first is the ability to heal. Waterbenders are able to use water to redirect the chi around a person's body and therefore, heal wounds. The healing ability is not infallible. Severe wounds cannot be healed completely or at all unless special water from the Sprit Oasis is used. Another extension is Plantbending. Waterbenders can manipulate the water within the plant's vines and leaves and move the plant at will. Similarily, there is also the ability of Bloodbending, which occurs by manipulating the blood within a person's body. Bloodbenders can take control of other people's bodies and make them move against their will and kill with frightingly ease. However, Bloodbending requires a lot of energy and can only be done during a full moon.
Airbending
Airbending consists almost primarily of defensive and evasive moves. There are a lot of quick and fancy foot movements, open hand techniques and twisting and turning. Airbenders can manipulate the air surrounding them along with getting energy from their abdomen and exhaling huge gusts of wind. They can run faster and jump higher by decreasing air resistance, slow their decent by creating an air cushion and run up walls.
The first airbenders were the Sky Bisons, which live in the air temples along with the air nomads. They are able to fly in the air and produce wind by slamming their tail. The airbenders even emulated the arrow tattoo found on the sky bison's head. Since the air nomad culture is so heavily focused on spirituality, all air nomads are born as airbenders.
Airbending is also the only bending art in which the bender utilizes a weapon. Airbenders carry with them a staff that they can swing around producing huge gusts of wind, which can also be changed into a glider, allowing the airbenders to fly in the air by manipulating the air around the glider's wings.
Earthbending
Earthbending is different than the other bending styles in that it utilizes a balance of offensive and defensive moves to overwhelm the opponents. Earthbending focuses on Neutral Jing, which involves waiting, listening and striking at the right moment. Earthbenders will usually suffer through their opponent's attacks, but when their opponent makes one small mistake, they will attack with overwhelming strength.
The first Earthbenders were two star-crossed lovers called Oma and Shu (who became the namesake of one of the Earth Kingdom cities: Omashu), who learned how to Earthbend from the Badgermoles. Badgermoles are blind and Earthbending is an extension of their senses, allowing them to interact with the world.
One extension of Earthbending is Sandbending. Sand is much looser and shiftier than regular Earth, so it's an adjustment that most Earthbenders don't care to make. However, there are Earthbenders who live in the Si Wong Desert and they are able to propel wooden mobiles (kind of like a boat) by manipulating the sand. Another extension is Metalbending. Metal is just Earth that has been refined and purified, so in order to bend metal, you would need to access the small amounts of Earth that's still left. Toph is the only known Earthbender that is capable of Metalbending. Also, Earthbenders are technically able to sense the vibrations passing through the Earth, allowing them to feel the movements of everything surrounding them. Toph and the Badgermoles use this ability constantly and later on, Aang was also able to "see with his feet".
