Welcome! We’re now writing as part of a collaboration of articles. The section you are about to read is about the bending seen in Avatar: the Last Airbender (ATLA). It’s truly an amazing series, and if you haven’t yet, I suggest you check it out. It’s probably my favorite animated show of all time and something Nickelodeon can actually be proud of airing. I hesitate to use this word (for those of you have previously experienced Animation Exploration), but the effects associated with bending, though animated, are great! Bending the elements helps make this show exceptional and give some premise for the characters’ extraordinary accomplishments. I’ll touch on the five main types of elemental bending, not even mentioning sub-sets of these an adept bender can develop. Now, in the wise words of the ever-clever King Bumi, “Lettuce begin.”
Bending is the ability to manipulate an element, and this skill is significant to many aspects of life in ATLA. There are five known general bending arts based on the four classical elements and one more: water, earth, fire, air and energy. Bending is traditionally performed through the motions of one’s hands and feet, however certain benders are able to effectively manipulate their element with only minimal movement. Even rarer, benders are able to bend without any physical movement, instead using sheer focus and force of will to psychically bend. Each element is also identified with a particular nation in this world (the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads) and that nation specializes in that bending. Other bending groups do exist within other nations, as with the Foggy Swamp Tribe in the Earth Kingdom.
Energybending, the fifth bending form, is unlike the other four in that little physical action is required to direct the bending. The four elemental bending arts are all dependent on the energy, or chi, within the human body, relying on its flow through the body to manipulate a specific element. A person can bend when he/she extends her chi beyond the body to interact with the environment. Energybending is concerned with the manipulation of that energy itself and can remove bending or grant it to others.
However, not everyone in this world can bend. In mixed marriages (two benders with different backgrounds), their children may be benders of either element, if they are benders at all. The only person who can bend multiple elements is the Avatar, destined to master all the elements.
Waterbending is practiced by some people of the Water Tribes (North and South), as well as the Foggy Swamp Tribe. It is not only the most versatile element, creating ice, liquid, gas, and more, but also one of the more unique bending arts, as the first benders did not learn from an animal instead from the Moon. Similar to their element, waterbenders are extremely adaptable and versatile. Waterbending concentrates on the flow of energy and focuses less on strength and more on turning the opponent’s own energy against them. Waterbenders, unlike other benders, rely on the water around them to fight, although highly skilled waterbenders can draw water from anywhere: from the humidity of the air or the water in living things, especially plants. Epitomizing the element of change, waterbenders can fluidly move from defense to offense; from a wall of ice to a jet of water, turning their opponent’s strength against them. The obvious opposite of waterbending is firebending with it’s relatively stagnant, direct philosophy. Due to its lunar sympathy, waterbending is stronger at night and ineffective during a lunar eclipse. However, to counter waterbending’s ineffectiveness during a lunar eclipse, waterbenders gain immense power during the peak of the full moon. Its season is Winter.
Earthbending originates in the Earth Kingdom, and it demands a special connection with the earth that is achievable with neutral jing, listening, and waiting for the right moment to strike. The first earthbenders were badgermoles. Like waterbenders, earthbenders rely on the amount of earth around them, though the conditions are not as extreme. Because of their element’s stability and its stress on neutral jing, earthbenders stand their ground, absorbing or intercepting attacks until they completely overwhelm their opponents. Unlike the other bending arts, earthbending’s strength is balanced in both offense and defense. Earthbending is in stark contrast to airbending as airbending’s emphasis is on evasion and mobility while earthbending’s emphasis is on fortitude and strength. Earthbending is the element of substance and its season is Spring.
Firebending is used by those of the Fire Nation and is the most aggressive bending art. Dragons were the first firebenders; they subsequently taught the Sun Warriors, who then passed it on to others though, it’s art became warped and violent along the way. Unlike the other benders, firebenders can create fire using their internal heat source or “dragon breath” in addition to controlling already existent flames. As the element of power, firebenders have to be able to maintain a constant source of energy and balance in battle, unleashing a volley of direct, successive attacks. Firebending’s relatively simple and direct style contrasts the complex and changing style of waterbending. Firebending is strengthened by the Sun, making it stronger during the day and at full power at noon, but it is rendered completely ineffective during a solar eclipse. When a comet passes close to the planet, the power of a firebender is greatly increased. Skilled firebenders are able to fly using powerful jets of flames. A notable feature of special firebenders is an ability to create a hotter, blue fire (Azula is the only known firebender who demonstrated this extra-powerful flame). Firebending’s is almost obviously Summer.
Airbending is the bending art used by the Air Nomads. The flying bison were the original airbenders. This style concentrates on speed and evasion, forgoing a strong offense for a greater defense. Though lacking fatal finishing moves, it is the most dynamic of all the bending arts. Airbending, as the art of freedom, use their capability to bend unencumbered by gravity and use their own momentum as a weapon, evading attacks with astounding agility to tire their opponents out or building up massive inertia for explosive gusts of wind to make their counterattacks finishing moves. They can fly by manipulating the air currents around them to create lift. They also use their own momentum as a weapon, evading attacks with astounding agility to tire their opponents out or building up massive inertia for explosive gusts of wind to knock opponents away. Airbending’s opposite is earthbending and the confrontational style that serves as its foundation. The season of airbending is Autumn.
Energybending is the art of bending the energy within one’s body. It existed in the era of Raava and the four bending arts, though was considered lost. The original energybenders were the magnificent lion turtles; the largest living animals ever and keepers of the bending arts. It is a highly dangerous technique requiring one’s chi to be stable and pure, or “unbendable;” if one’s own energy is impure, the practitioner will be destroyed. Few Avatars have learned this bending art, and even fewer have used it. Of course, though mastery of the four basic elements is necessary for any Avatar, energybending is considered optional. Energybending allows the user to remove other people’s bending abilities or restore them after a bender had his/her abilities blocked.
All of the bending styles are based on real-life martial arts. Waterbending is based on a style of T’ai chi ch’uan, specifically the Yang style. This is a Chinese martial art that features slow movements and elegant forms that evoke flowing water. Like tai chi, waterbending’s main advantage is the ease with which he/she can control his or her opponent, not simply harming them. Both arts were influenced by ancient healing practices. People would channel their “energy paths” within themselves to areas of the body where healing was necessary. These two also share a specific focus: body alignment, breath, and visualization. Finally, a waterbender can typically find that softness and breathing are more effective than hard aggression, just as a practitioner of tai chi does.
The Hung Gar style of kung fu is the main influence for earthbending. Both feature “heavily rooted stances and strong kicks and punches that evoke the mass and power of earth.” Hung Gar parallels animal movements like the tiger’s hard blows and the crane’s affinity to landing gracefully on the Earth. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule — Toph, the a blind earthbender, uses Southern Praying Mantis form, a precise stepping skill which Toph uses to maintain constant contact with the ground and “see.”
The concept of neutral jing is also closely related to the philosophy of “sticky hands,” a practice common to some southern Chinese martial arts like Chu Gar Southern Praying Mantis and Wing Chun. “Sticky hands” enables the practitioner to predict his opponent’s next move by maintaining constant contact between their own arm and their foe’s arm (may also be between their hands or wrists), seen whenever Toph detects the movements of others through her connection with earth. By practicing with a partner, a practitioner will learn to “read” the slight movements of their opponent’s arms to detect their next attack and move accordingly to efficiently neutralize it. Concepts such as attacks and defense, and drawing power from a stable lower body are often referred to in the practice of sticky hands, again, closely relating to many primary concepts in earthbending.
Firebending is based mainly on Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. This art features quick, successive attacks that exert extreme power for a moment, sacrificing defense to provide continuous offense. Aspects of the firebending combat style can be seen through the similar emphasis on highly technical kicking strikes, fundamentally strong movements, and the usage of swift, direct maneuvers. Northern Shaolin is an external style that uses long, aggressive techniques that explode and drive through the opponent similar to firebending’s emphasis on highly technical kicking strikes, strong movements, and the usage of swift, direct maneuvers. The Northern Shaolin style emphasizes prioritizing one’s legwork over the hand-to-hand. A few techniques from Northern Seven Star Praying Mantis also appear. These martial art variants feature quick, successive attacks; momentary bursts of extreme power, much like an explosion, called Ging Lik. This helps build a strong, continuous offense, making firebending the most aggressive style.
Close quarters firebending and distanced firebending combat differ in style and are based on various martial arts. Particular examples of such styles include:
- Chaquan – A fighting style that involves acrobatics and agile, graceful movements, it emphasizes long-range movements and stances combined with speed and power.
- Northern Shaolin Kung Fu– this style is used particularly close-ranged attacks, utilizing strong kicks and quick punches.
- Southern Dragon Claw – mirrors a dragon “swooping down on its prey.” The form contains close-range techniques for “seizing and holding that utilize the hand.”
- Xingyiquan – The classic “Seven Stars”; or the hands, feet, elbows, hips, knees, shoulders, and head; are incorporated into most firebending.
Airbending is based mostly on Ba Gua or Baguazhang, (also known as “circle walking,” “Eight Trigram Defense,” or the “Gentle Fist Art”) and Hsing Yi or Xingyiquan, (or “mind heart boxing”). These arts use swift, evasive movements, evoking the intangible yet explosive power of wind, with energy originating from the center of the abdomen. Ba Gua is known for its constant circular movement, making it difficult for opponents to attack directly or land a blow, ƒa philosophy that is prevalent within airbending. Maneuvers are also characteristically smooth, coiling and uncoiling movements, dynamic footwork, open-hand techniques, punches, and throws. A common tactic is to maneuver behind an opponent and mirror their movements, preventing them from turning to face the practitioner.
So, there you have it! The full run down on the (more than) basics of bending. I hope the article, though lengthy, was educational. Keep your eyes peeled for a sequel collaboration about this great series, and don’t forget to check out my Long-Winded Critique on the absolutely horrendous movie adaptation of the show ATLA, by M. Night Shyamalan. Until next time, dear readers!
The Shield 
