Agni Kai

Agni Kai is the name for fire duels. It is done by members of the Fire Nation. It is possible for the opponents to fight to the death. The outcome affects the honor of both duelists. It appears to be a popular way to resolve conflicts, and a source of entertainment for spectators.

The goal in these duels is to knock an opponent off-balance, and incapacitate (fatally or otherwise) with a final blow. The favored finishing move seems to be a direct fire blast to the face.

Any Firebender may participate, male or female. Only one time was a female shown participating in such event. This took place in the Fire Nation Capital in front of the palace. The duel participants included Zuko, his sister Azula, and later Katara after Azula attacked her by firing a lightning blast at her to distract Zuko.

Process
Fire Nation citizen A is arguing with Fire Nation citizen B. A challenges B to Agni Kai. B accepts. They go to an arena to fight. They walk onto the arena floor with some sort of brown cloth around their necks. They assume a fighting stance and the cloths fall to the ground. Using various Firebending moves, one A and B fight until one, in this case B, falls to the ground or dies. The match is now over.

Notable Duels
The first Agni Kai shown was that between the then Prince Zuko and his father, Fire Lord Ozai. Three years before Avatar Aang awoke from the iceberg, when Zuko was thirteen, he attended a war meeting along with his father and his Uncle Iroh. When one of the generals present suggested sacrificing a division of novice soldiers to lure Earth Kingdom soldiers into a trap, Zuko protested, prompting Ozai to challenge him to an Agni Kai as a means to settle the matter. Zuko wrongly assumed he would face the general when in reality he was facing his father. Zuko fell to his knees and hands pleading forgiveness from his father without striking a single blow. Ozai took this as an insult, so he burned his son's face and banished him. This Agni Kai left Zuko dishonored in the Fire Nation's eyes.

The first Agni Kai depicted in the series was in "The Southern Air Temple", between Zuko and Zhao. Zuko had improved since his last match and successfully defeated Zhao, but he refused to deliver the final blow. Zhao refused to concede and prepared to fight back, but was prevented by Iroh.

The Combustion Man earned his fearsome reputation from a number of very quick Agni Kais.

Centuries ago, Avatar Kuruk challenged a bewildered Fire Nation man to an Agni Kai while he was going to the store.

The most notable Agni Kai is that between Fire Lord Zuko and Princess Azula in "Sozin's Comet, Part 3: Into The Inferno". During Azula's coronation, Zuko showed up to claim his birthright of becoming Fire Lord, prompting Azula to challenge him to the Agni Kai for the crown. In the beginning, both fighters are equally matched, and powered by Sozin's Comet, show off amazing movements. With help from Katara, Zuko defeated Azula, driving her over the edge into a state of insanity (her mental instability was part of the reason she lost the duel). She was subsequently sent to a mental health facility following the War's end, effectively ending the threat she posed to the world.

Other Duels
Other, less official versions of Agni Kai exist. One example is what then Prince Zuko and Lieutenant Jee do in "The Storm".

Meaning

 * The word "Agni Kai" was created by using two already existing words. Agni is a Sanskrit word meaning 'fire'; Agni is also the god of fire in Hinduism, and may be represented as fire, lightning or the Sun.
 * Kai is the Japanese word for 'meeting'. It is most commonly used in the sense of a business meeting, but it can also mean a general meeting of two or more people.
 * Agni Kai is also the name of the track that was used when Zuko and Zhao dueled each other.