Chi



Chi refers to metaphysical energy that flows throughout the body. In real life, chi is a Chinese concept prevalent in traditional Chinese philosophy, medicine and martial arts. It is used in the Avatar universe as a concept that serves as the root of bending and an array of other skills.

Roots
It is shown that there is a deep connection between chi and bending: seeming as if modern-day Bending, in and of itself, is merely the ability to manipulate one's chi to the point where one can interact with and affect the environment. Due to chi, the four Bending Arts are truly one and the same.



Enlightened individuals, such as Guru Pathik and Huu, further explain the concept of chi as the life energy that dwells inside every living being connecting them to each other, their surroundings and the universe as a whole. Different parts of the human body contain concentrated clusters of chi called chakras, "pools of energy" as Pathik calls them, that when unlocked, are crucial for the Avatar to achieve his or her full potential, channeling his or her own energy as well as the energy from the universe.

Because humans and higher animals have the potential to become deeply connected to one another, Pathik, Huu, Aang and potentially others can locate living beings and detect their thoughts and emotions by tapping into their chi.

Because of the fact that different types of benders, the Avatar and even non-benders have shown that the ability to manipulate chi is a universal skill that can be learned by anyone.

Chi and the Modern Bending Arts


Due to their heightened spirituality, all Air Nomads are born Airbenders. The tattoos which they receive upon becoming Airbending Masters run along their chi paths. This is also the reason why Air Nomad Avatars' tattoos glow during the Avatar State.

As Iroh showed, chi can be felt swirling around inside one's body, and the path can be changed to allow energy to flow in certain directions, which is the basic concept of lightning redirection. In actual Waterbending, Waterbenders directly use their own chi to mimic the moon's push and pull on the ocean tides. Combustion Man had the unique ability to gather chi from his stomach, the "sea of chi", and channel it in his forehead, via a tattoo over his Light Chakra, to create localized explosions.

Chi Blocking


Ty Lee, having an unparalleled knowledge of the human body's chi paths and their weak points, used chi blocking to a great effect in battle to either incapacitate, paralyze, and possibly kill her opponents. She could even use this ability to disable another's ability to bend.

Healing
A select few Waterbenders are born with the ability to heal another by using water to redirect the chi in a person's body, revitalizing healthy chi energy and speeding up their healing process. Though powerful, healing cannot cure the effects of chi blocking and other injuries where one's chi paths are blocked or disrupted like internal wounds and birth defects. Katara was perhaps the most powerful healer shown in the series besides Yugoda, who taught the ability.