How do the four types of element bending work?

This Thursday, the 22nd, Netflix made available in its catalog “Avatar: The Last Airbender”, a live-action series that adapts “Avatar: The Last Airbender”, an animation released by Nickelodeon in 2005, where it is possible to discover civilizations who has the ability to manipulate, or bend (as called in the work), one of the four elements of nature: fire, earth, water and air.

These people are the Water Tribe, which is home to Waterbenders; the Earth Kingdom, where there are Earthbenders; the Fire Nation, where the Firebenders and the Air Nomads meet, which corresponds to the Airbenders.

In the plot, benders can manipulate the elements based on their own style of martial arts and the only ones capable of manipulating the four elements are called Avatar, as happened with Aang, the protagonist of the story.

Still, how do they work and what are the four types of element bending? RECREIO gathered the response below.

Firebending

Firebending, whose martial art is Northern Shaolin Kung Fu, is a skill of the Fire Nation, and its benders originate from dragons, which previously inhabited the region.

Firebending is the most violent, as minimal contact is capable of causing injuries, in addition to being used mainly as a form of attack, as firebenders do not have many defense techniques and in battles it is common for circular movements to occur. , punches and kicks are used to create balls and blasts of fire to hurt enemies, although some manage to use it defensively by creating large walls of fire.

The most skilled benders also develop techniques such as harnessing lightning, manipulating the heat of the atmosphere, and even manipulating heat to melt objects.

It is worth mentioning that the sun is one of the greatest sources of power for firebenders, so cold days or nights when the moon is full become major warning points for those who have the ability to bend this element.

Earthbending

Seen in the Earth Kingdom, earthbending has Badger Moles as its original bends. Humans use movements from the Hung Gar and Praying Mantis styles of southern Kung Fu, to be able to manipulate the element that is mainly used in counterattacks during fights.

The strong movements of punches and stomps are used to extract minerals from the earth, being able to create powerful barriers and shields, in addition, they can create blocks and columns of earth to attack enemies, as well as earthquakes, fissures and many others.

More skilled benders can also master metals, bend metals and sense their opponent just by their contact with the earth.

Waterbending

Waterbending did not come about through an animal. In fact, the ability arose from observing the Moon and the way it pushed and pulled the tides of the Ocean, therefore, the Moon is the element of strength for the benders of this element.

The movements used are based on Tai Chi Chuan and are used in fights as a form of defense, control, attack and even healing. Furthermore, benders who have a high level of skill can bend water in solid, gaseous and liquid states, as well as being able to drain water from the air or plants using it for different purposes.

Waterbenders can also bend blood, a skill that can even kill the opponent.

Air Bending

As the name suggests, airbending has air as its source of power and the movements of airbenders are based on Baguazhang, a martial art of Chinese origin.

This ability arose with the Flying Bison who passed it on to the Air Monks, a nomadic tribe whose philosophy of life is opposition to war, therefore, they tend to use the element as a method of defense rather than attack.

Still, airbending can be one of the most versatile, as there are practically no limitations to this bending, as the element can be found in almost every type of environment.

Among the abilities seen among airbenders is the ability to fly long distances, manipulate clouds and create gusts of wind of different intensities.