Water Bending for Beginners

Waterbenders originally learned waterbending from the Moon. The ancestors of the Water Tribe noticed the push and pull effect the Moon has on the tides of the ocean. Eventually, these first waterbenders learned how to manipulate water themselves. Waterbending is the only bending art without a spiritual animal teacher, as the waterbenders learned the art of pushing and pulling water from the gravitational push and pull of the Moon.

Waterbending is based on Tai Chi, a Chinese martial art that features slow movements and elegant forms that evoke the feel of flowing water. Waterbending's strongest asset lies within its defensive capabilities. Unlike some other bending disciplines, waterbending focuses on turning an opponent's own strength against themselves, rather than direct strikes. Since water can exist in different physical states, waterbenders can freeze, melt, evaporate, sublimate or condense water at will.The ability to alter the physical state of water gives Waterbenders an array of defensive, evasive and offensive techniques in battle such as encasing an opponent in ice, hiding behind a wall of mist, surfing on bodies of water on a platform of ice, and battering enemies with lashing whips and waves. Waterbenders can also manipulate the molecular cohesion of water for cutting and grabbing objects or running on water. While a bender's victory in battle is usually based on skill and technique, a Waterbender gains a notable advantage or disadvantage over other bending arts depending on the amount of water in their vicinity.

Waterbenders are more powerful at night than during the day due to their spiritual connection with the Moon. Waterbenders are at their most powerful during the Full Moon, and are powerless during a lunar eclipse or when the Moon Spirit is in dange

Specialized Waterbending techniques

Healing
Certain Waterbenders are born with the ability to heal wounds and relieve sickness by redirecting chi paths throughout the body, using water as a catalyst. In the Northern Water Tribe, due to the traditionally patriarchal culture of the tribe, healing is the only aspect of Waterbending taught to female waterbenders, with classes assigned for young girls held in huts towards the development of the ability. In rare cases, a waterbender is shown to naturally have this ability like Katara discovered she had.

Plant Bending
A member of the Foggy Swamp Tribe, Hu, has illustrated that waterbenders can manipulate the vines and roots of plants by bending the ample amount of water within them.

Water Extraction
While travelling Waterbenders carry water skins full of water to bend, a skilled waterbender is able to extract the water from plants for more effective utilization, albeit leaving behind withered, desiccated remains of the former plant life.Waterbenders can also use the water from the air, their sweat or the water underground to waterbend.

Bloodbending
Bloodbending is the ultimate Waterbending technique that allows Waterbenders to bend the water within living creatures, giving a waterbender complete control over it. This can only be done during a Full Moon, when a Waterbender is at his/her full potential. Must be a high level bender and must be approved by 2 or more administrators

Freezing/Evaporation
Waterbenders have the ability to utilize water in its various forms, enabling them to freeze water into ice, immobilizing enemies, and to evaporate it into steam, given them stealth. Skilled waterbenders can freeze water using their breath, as Katara demonstrated in Avatar.