Airbending training

"air"

- Airbending is all about spiral movements. When you meet resistance, you must be able to switch direction at a moment's notice.



Airbending masters employ distinct training exercises that considerably aid their pupils in mastering the art. Airbending training focuses on avoiding resistance. According to Tenzin, one must also have a quiet environment free of any distractions.

Airbending gates


As airbending is a highly defensive discipline, it is essential to build up the instinct to avoid and evade conflict, as well as to follow the path with least resistance. To do this, airbending gates are used. The goal of the exercise is to weave your way through the gates without touching them. Airbending is used to set the gates in motion, either by an airbending master or by a fellow pupil who has completed the exercise, requiring the pupil to learn to switch directions at a moment's notice in order to get to the other side. Forcing the way through the panels will result in them hitting the pupil while they attempt to traverse it.

Meditation
Air is the element of freedom, and as such, it is necessary to learn how to get into this mindset. Meditation is meant to help the pupil allow his or her spirit to wander, like the air. It is supposed to be simple, with no chance of doing anything wrong, because as Tenzin put it, there is "nothing to do".

Customs


It is traditional that once an airbender demonstrates mastery over the element, he or she is tattooed with five light blue arrows: one extending from the base of the spine to the forehead, one for each arm pointing to the hands, and similarly for the legs. This design emulates the markings of the sky bison, the original airbenders. Contrary to many other airbenders, who gain their status later in life, Avatar Aang received his tattoos at the early age of twelve, after having invented the air scooter technique. It appears that only Air Nomads or their Avatars bear the tattoos, while Avatars of other nations who have mastered airbending do not receive the markings.

Trivia

 * The airbending gates first appeared in the movie .