Avatar: The Last Airbender is probably one of the most iconic shows from the 1990s-2000s. This cartoon showcased element bending – fire-bending, water-bending, air-bending, and earth-bending. This beloved show had audiences around the world and was praised for its depiction of Chinese culture. But how accurate was it?
The bending styles and movements shown in the show were based on Chinese martial arts. The animators of the show familiarized themselves with these techniques and incorporated them into the poses of the characters. Today, we’ll be covering fire-bending and water-bending:
Fire-bending
Fire-bending was inspired by Northern Shaolin martial arts. This style requires extending the body into long poses, making it very aggressive. Dating back to 527, Northern Shaolin movements are based on nature and the behaviour of animals. It fits perfectly with fire-bending, as both are aggressive and extravagant.
Water-bending
Water-bending was inspired by Tai chi. The main focus of Tai chi is control over the flow of energy. At first glance, it is very soft and elegant, but when mastered, it could have devastating effects on the enemy. Tai chi is also used therapy, health, and longevity. In Avatar: The Last Airbender, it is seen throughout the show that waterbending is used for healing the injured.
Will this be still possible to do water bending & fire bending nowadays?