Toph Beifong

History
Toph as she appeared to Aang in the swamp

Toph is the heir and only child to the wealthy Bei Fong family of Gaoling. Born blind, she was sheltered by parents who believed her blindness made her fragile and incapable of looking after herself. They went to extreme measures to protect her, including hiding her existence from the rest of the world. Toph, resenting her parents' treatment, grew up hard and rebellious. Although her father hired the earthbender Master Yu to instruct her, he didn't teach her anything other than beginner moves. Toph was forced to take her training into her own hands, teaching herself to "see" through the use of her earthbending, feeling persons and other objects through their vibrations. She became such a powerful bender that she secretly entered underground earthbending tournaments as the Blind Bandit, and was actually the champion of Earth Rumble Six, before Aang challenged her.

Toph's story
Toph makes her first appearance in "The Swamp" in Aang's vision, although he does not recognize her. Her next appearance is in "The Blind Bandit" as the title character. Aang recognizes her during Earth Rumble Six, realizing that she was in his vision and is perhaps the earthbending teacher he has been searching for. Aang finds an opporunity to speak with her when the tournament host Xin Fu asks for a volunteer to challenge the champion of the tournament, but while Aang attempts to talk to Toph, she assumes he is only there to fight her and keeps attacking him. Finally, Aang overtakes her by using his airbending ability, which Toph cannot sense as she is blind. However, upset at losing, Toph leaves the arena without ever giving Aang a chance to explain who he is and why he is searching for her. After asking around, Aang finds her once again at the Bei Fong Estate and tried to explain why he needs an earthbending teacher, but Toph calls for the guards. Aang flees, but he isn't ready to give up. He returns later, officially visiting the Bei Fong family, and is invited to dinner, where he attempts to talk to Toph's father about her earthbending and his need for a teacher. Toph tries to silence him, since her parents know nothing about her secret life as the Blind Bandit. Tensions run high between Aang and Toph, but the finally reconcile after dinner, when she explains about her parents and her ability to "see" through her bending. Their conversation is cut short when they are kidnapped by the members of Earth Rumble Six, because, by "The Boulder's" account, Toph seemed to have lost intentionally, since he did not see Aang earthbending when Toph fell in the arena. Toph angry at Aang in Bitter work because of his lack of progress in learning earthbending

Xin Fu, the host of Earth Rumble Six, demands that his money be returned in exchange for Toph and Aang. Katara, Sokka, Master Yu and Toph's father go to the arena and repay all the money. Toph is released, but Aang is kept, as they decide that they'd get more money by turning him over to the Fire Nation. Katara asks for Toph's help in defeating the earthbenders and rescueing Aang. Toph's father cuts Katara off, claiming once again that his daughter is too weak and blind to do any sort of fighting, but Toph agrees to save Aang. Toph displays some amazing bending and easily beats all of the Earth Rumble Six contestants, as well as Xin Fu, much to the amazement of both her father and Master Yu.

Later that night, Toph explains her secret life to her parents, telling them that she hopes it will not change their opinion of her. Toph's father responds that it does not change his love for her at all, but he has instead realized that he has allowed her too much freedom, and she will henceforth be watched by guards at all times. He also dismisses the Avatar and his friends from his home.

Just as they are about to leave, Toph appears and tells them that her father has changed his mind. While both Sokka and Katara realize that she is lying and is in fact running away from home, Aang seems to believe that she is being genuine and accepts her into the group happily. Back at the Bei Fong Estate, Toph's father offers a large reward to Master Yu and Xin Fu if they recover his daughter, whom he assumes was kidnapped by the Avatar.

Toph's Personality
Toph is rude and upfront, but it is clear she knows what she is doing. Toph's lessons are hard and rough but are beneficial to Aang's plight as Aang has such a responsibility ahead of him. Right now Toph is slowly getting used to being on a team so she is still rather upfront and stubborn.

Teaching Aang
Toph's teaching style is just as agressive and hard as her personality, she pushed Aang to his limit and tested his patience. First she had him stand in front of a boulder and push it with Earthbending, but Aang failed his first test. The second test involved Aang lifting and carrying a large boulder but once again he failed The third test involved pushing fingers through solid rock but again Aang failed. the next test Aang did better at, Toph sort of borrowed Sokka's staff and Toph blindfolded Aang, she then sent waves of earth at Aang and it was up to Aang to knock one down and he did. The next test Toph covered herself in earth and walled herself in with Aang as she came at him, she charged at him but eventually Aang was able to push her back and Aang did a fair job at it. The next test was for Aang to hold his stance while holding a purse shaped boulder as Toph raised him higher into the air. the final test involved Aang holding his stance while Toph pushed a large boulder off the edge of a cliff. Toph blindfolded Aang and then pushed the boulder down the slope, but then Aang avoided the boulder and angered Toph greatly. But later Toph set up a scenario with a Moose lion where Sokka played an unwilling role in, she put a crack in the earth where Sokka fell though while trying to capture a baby moose lion. Aang came to his rescue but then an adult mosse lion came by and charged at Aang, Aang faced the moose lion head on and unwillingly learned what Toph was trying to teach him earlier on by facing his problems head on as opposed to being evasive. The lessons were hard but Aang did finally learn his lesson.

Toph's fighting style
Even though Toph is an earthbender by trait, her style is totally unique amoung Earthbenders. Toph senses vibrations though the ground and can see things with her feet. In combat Toph hears and feels the movements of her enemies and uses that in her advantage, Toph's tactics are very unusual and differ greatly from traditional earthbending. Toph uses the Praying Mantis style of Kung Fu to complement her blindness, rather than the Tiger/Crane Style that is depicted by most earthbenders. Due to her ability of to sense the earth while bending, Toph has the unique ability to bend metal by "seeing" the bits of unprocessed earth in it.

Notes: Toph's name is listed in traditional Chinese here where last names come first. In Chinese Toph's name would read Bei Fong Toph as opposed to Toph Bei Fong