Original Waterbenders

Princess Yue said "The legends say the moon was the first Waterbender. Our ancestors saw how it pushed and pulled the tides and learned how to do it themselves...". She also said that the Ocean and the Moon spirit work together to keep balance, Tui and La.

When Admiral Zhao killed the physical form of the Moon Spirit, the Waterbenders lost their bending ability. It has been demonstrated on several occasions that Waterbenders depend on the moon to bend, and that they are much stronger during the night.

Techniques

Waterbending techniques vary, but some of their most used include:

• Creating multiple ice spikes as an offensive weapon ("The Western Air Temple")

• Bending water to use it as a shield ("The Crossroads of Destiny")

• Bending water at an high enough velocity allowing it to cut/chop an object ("The Swamp")

• Freezing water allowing them to walk on water ("The Painted Lady")

• Creating a whip out of water, named "The Water Whip" ("The Waterbending Scroll")

• Freezing enemies ("Jet")

• Healing ("The Deserter")

• Using water to lift or propell something or someone (exaple "The Water Snake" ("Siege of the North"))

• Mass water manipulation ("The Awakening")

• Bloodbending ("The Puppetmaster")

• Octopus Form ("The Cave of Two Lovers")

• Tidal Wave ("The Crossroads of Destiny")

Waterbending

Iroh’s words of wisdom on the Water Tribes:

”Water is the element of change. The people of the Water Tribe are capable of adapting too many things. They have a deep sense of community and love that holds them together through anything.”

For centuries, people have watched the tides caused by the slow push and pull of

the moon. A few people decided to attempt the same feat, and began teaching themselves how to manipulate the water. According to Princess Yue: "Our ancestors saw how it pushed and pulled the tides and learned how to do it themselves... Our strength comes from the Spirit of the Moon; our life comes from the Spirit of the Ocean. They work together to keep balance."

The style of waterbending is based off of the ancient Asian style of Tai Chi. It encompasses fluid and skillful movements to control the water, and a true master may appear to be in a sort of dance as they fight. They are capable of summoning giant waves, as well as controlling hips of water.

Healing

By using the properties of water, waterbenders are able to manipulate the

meridians to the point that they can heal multiple wounds, from cuts to burns. This healing has also been shown to help heal mental damage as well, and, with the help from spirit water, it has been shown to be able to bring someone back to life.

The healing that is taken on by waterbenders was usually taught to the women, who were believed to be useless in a fight, until this practice was stopped by Katara.

Bloodbending

Bloodbending is perhaps the darkest aspect of waterbending. Bloodbending can only be performed on the night of the full moon, when a waterbender is at their peek strength. A waterbender uses their increased power to control the fluids within a person, and cause them to do whatever the waterbender wishes. This can only be resisted by another waterbender.

Emotional State

Because Waterbending depends on the natural chi within a Waterbenders body to bend, their emotional state can sometimes effect their bending if they aren't trained properly in the disipline. This has been demonstrated on two seperate occasions by Katara. Once in the first episode, "The Boy In The Iceberg", where she's angry at Sokka and she crack's the top of the iceberg Aang and Appa were trapped in, and secondly in "The Waterbending Master", where she's angry at Master Pakku and causes two pots full of water to crack.