Talk:Firebending/@comment-4673465-20111213043801/@comment-3511228-20111213124406

Cha, breath control is vital for Firebending - just ask Aang. "I've been breathing for hours!"

No, seriously, Iroh means that the heat in the body that generates Firebending comes from the breath as opposed to the muscle. The Sun is the source of fire, while its power comes from the breath. For example, the Moon is the source of Waterbending, but most would agree that its power comes from keeping a balance*, spiritually/mentally speaking, as can be evidenced with Katara's dialogue throughout her teaching-Aang-Waterbending scenes, especially in Book II. Similarly, the power in Firebending comes from breath control, which is necessary for Northern Shaolin Kung Fu as well: Science has shown that certain moves are more powerful on certain times of the breath cycle. * Additionally, power can come from the arms, physically speaking, if one studies the choreography.