List of Skills

WATER (Water Tribe)

Practiced by select people of the Water Tribe, waterbending is not only the most versatile element, but one of the more unique bending arts as the first benders did not learn from an animal, but 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. While a bender's victory in battle depends on their skill or ingenuity, waterbenders, unlike other benders, gain a serious advantage or disadvantage depending on the amount of water around them, although highly skilled waterbenders can draw water from surprising places. Waterbenders can draw humidity from the air and bend the water in living things, especially plants. As the element of change, waterbenders can fluidly and quickly alternate from defense to offense, from a wall of ice to a jet of water, turning their opponent's strength against them. The opposite of waterbending is firebending and its relatively stagnant, direct philosophy. Due to its lunar sympathy, waterbending is stronger at night and ineffective during a lunar eclipse or when the Moon Spirit dies. However, to counter waterbending's ineffectiveness during a lunar eclipse, waterbenders gain immense power during the peak of the full moon. The Moon was the first waterbender. The sub-skill for waterbending is healing. Their style of fighting is Tai Chi. Waterbending is the element of change and its season is winter.

EARTH (Earth Kingdom)

Originating in the Earth Kingdom, earthbending demands a special connection with the earth that is achievable with neutral jing, listening, though seemingly doing nothing, and waiting for the right moment to strike. The first earthbenders were badgermoles. Like waterbenders, earthbenders gain an advantage or disadvantage in battle based on the amount of earth around them, though the conditions are not as extreme. The sub-skill for earthbending is seismic sense and, as an extension, metalbending. 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 equally lies 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. Their style of fighting is Hung Gar. However, Toph Beifong used a different style called the Southern Praying Mantis. Earthbending is the element of substance, and its season is spring.

FIRE (Fire Nation)

Firebending, used by the people of the Fire Nation, is the most aggressive bending art. Unlike other benders who depend on external sources of their elements to bend, firebenders can create fire using their internal heat source 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. Due to its solar affinity, firebending is stronger during the day and at its full power at noon, but completely ineffective during a solar eclipse. When a comet passes close to the planet, the power of a firebender is greatly increased. For a long time, disciplines of firebending were taught to be fueled by hatred, yet this directly contrasts with the sub-ability of utilizing lightning, and more skilled firebenders are able to fly using powerful jets of flames. Dragons were the first firebenders; being the ones who subsequently taught the Sun Warriors. Their style of fighting is Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. A notable feature of special firebenders is an ability to create a hotter, blue fire; Azula was the only known firebender who demonstrated this extra-powerful flame. Firebending is the element of power and its season is summer.

AIR (Air Nomads)

Airbending is the bending art used by the Air Nomads. The art was almost wiped from existence by the Fire Nation, and only one a few were able to hide during the Air Nomad Genocide and survived, including the actual Avatar, Aang. Airbending concentrates on speed and evasion, forgoing a strong offense for defense. Though apparently lacking fatal finishing moves, it is the most dynamic of all the bending arts. As the element of freedom, airbenders use their capability to bend unencumbered by the ground or any other environmental factors 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. Airbenders, when resorting to physical confrontation, are able to harness the immense and intangible power of wind.Airbending's opposite is earthbending, and the confrontational style that serves as its foundation.Airbenders can use a flight technique, where an airbender opens his/her glider and uses the air to provide and lift. The first airbenders were the sky bison. Their style of fighting is Ba Gua Kung Fu. Airbending is the element of freedom, and its season is autumn.

MARTIAL ARTS (Residents)

Martial arts is a special way of combat practices only mastered by the ones who are born with the talent. There are martial arts fighters all over the world being able to fight against a bender with bare hands winning through their own original techniques. The fighters mostly possess great self-denfese as well as excellent physical health and fitness. Certain attributes can also be competitiveness or spiritual and mental strength. For most of them It comes naturally to meditate from time to time and they easily can connect with the Spirit World by opening all their seven chakras. There are several ways for Martial arts fighters to improve their skills by training with various weapons but actually every fighter specifically developes his own way of fighting e.g. Shuriken-Jutsu with knives and stilettos or Chi-Blocking. However the most common techniques are Baguazhang, Hung Gar, Northern Shaolin and Tai Chi.

credits for the elements' descriptions go to the awesome Avatar Wiki: http://avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Bending_arts