(Source: sifu-kisu)

Once I finished watching the incredible first two episodes of The Legend of Korra, I started thinking about the new styles of pro-bending. In the original series, fighting styles gave insights into national cultures and the mechanics of each element. The Tai Chi-based style of waterbending was fluid in the aristocratic North and aggressive in the peasant South. Earthbending was rooted in Hun Gar, a touchstone that drew together the diverse cultures of the Earth Kingdom. The direct and sweeping blows of Northern Shaolin characterized the Fire Nation. One of the beautiful themes of the previous show was that styles evolved and there was no “true” technique. The Sun Warriors had an ancient low and fluid way with fire, Toph invented her own Southern Praying Mantis style for earth, and the Foggy Swamp Tribe had a… unique approach to water. The common understanding was that no single style was best; they all had strengths and limitations.

This remains true in Korra’s modern era, where pro-bending prizes speed, mobility, and efficiency due to the limitations of resources and space. The ring is small and earth and water are in small quantities. There are no oceans or mountains to bend, so big movements don’t make sense. The techniques they develop are well suited to the urban environment of Republic City. When attacked by triad gangsters, Korra overwhelms them with her classical power, but takes out half a city block in the process. The light, quick jabs of pro-bending are better suited to fighting in tight spaces while staying out of debt and out of trouble with the law.

Despite their convergence in the ring, the three pro-bending styles do have unique moves and features. While all have a certain amount of Western boxing, pro-earthbending has some serious Muay Thai influence. The over-the-top kick, spinning elbow, and curved knee seem to be popular ways to launch the clay. Mix in some horse stance moves for big attacks, something common to both Muay Thai and Hun Gar practice forms, and you have some classical influence as well.

Pro-firebending seems to be a direct translation of kickboxing. Bobbing, weaving, straight punches, and clean roundhouse kicks dominate. The style is quick, tight, and efficient. The spinning roundhouse kicks carry over from the classical style for big sweeping blasts. Acrobatics are used for evasion, but seem just as likely to get you hit as anything else.

Pro-waterbending is harder to pin down because we have less to work with. Hasook was mediocre and Korra doesn’t really know the style yet. So far, the style seems similar to Tae Kwon Do with it’s spinning kicks and tight punches, a big shift from the upper body focused classical style. The main carry-over seems to be the sway and shifting of weight in upper body movements that still resemble Tai Chi.

Oh, and airbending, with its Bagua, seems to be unchanged and in no need of revision. Then again, there’s no one to test it in the ring.

So that’s my take on the styles so far. I hope my instincts are correct and the new styles do have distinct real world influences. Tracking the evolving forms and cultures of bending was one of the richest parts of A:TLA. I would love to hear the creators take us through their process as they did with the last series.