Aang performing the Single Water Whip.
Iroh shares the importance of having a good stance
The Single Water Whip is a very common Waterbending technique, it has the advantage that no water is lost during the technique meaning that it can be utilised where there is a limited amount of water. Skilled Waterbenders can make very large and powerful whips or very fine cutting whips.
Master Pakku performing similar movements to those shown in the first line of the Waterbending Scroll. The main difference being Master Pakku ends with the Single Water Whip posture.
The Waterbending Scroll and the others snippets of waterbending forms within the show begin with the movement known as “Lifting water”. This apparently simple movement teaches the Waterbender important principles of push, pull, float and sink and is the foundation of water manipulation techniques such as “streaming the water”. This movement does not just use the arms but is a whole body movement.
Non Avatar pictures taken from here.
The Waterbending Scroll is a document used by the Northern Water tribe to aid Waterbending training. The Scroll contains a Waterbending form.
The Chinese script down the left hand side has been translated by the amazing Jin as ‘Waterbending, exercise one’, the script the right hand side says ‘single water whip’
(Waterbending is based on Tai Chi Chuan, especially the Yang style. The movements shown on the scroll are taken from the 24 step form.)
“You’re moving the water around, but you’re not feeling the push and pull.” Master Pakku (The Waterbending Master)
Push and pull is a key concept in waterbending. In The Siege of the North (Part 1), Princess Yue explains to Aang and Katara that the moon was the first waterbender and that their ancestors saw how it pushed and pulled the tides and learned how to do it themselves.
“The key to earthbending is your stance. You’ve got to be steady and strong. Rock is a stubborn element. If you’re going to move it, you’ve got to be like a rock yourself.” Toph (Bitter Work)
The tenth and final movement of the Dancing Dragon form. This movement uses a Bow stance and a double front punch. This movement is the most discussed movement of the Dancing Dragon form due similarity with Dragon Ball Z’s Fusion Dance. Whether this movement is or is not be a homage to DBZ is irrelevant to me as the movement is a perfectly valid martial movement and is found in many martial arts albeit in varying forms. In Xingyiquan the movement is known as the cannon fist and it associated with the fire element. I was taught this movement by the name Double Dragons fight for Pearl.
