Earthbending

A style of martial art that can also affect rock and soil, Earthbending is a style characterized by its even balance between offense and defense.

By use of firm punches, kicks, and stomps, Earthbenders can, depending on their level of skill and power, do anything from launching destructive projectiles of stone, to raising the ground into protective barriers and shelters, to utterly reshaping the landscape around them.

The most notable and only confirmed practicioner of Earthbending to be named is Toph Bei Fong.

Characteristics
As wielders of the element of matter and substance, Earthbenders are just as diverse and varied as the range of control their style allows. Uncompromising, hardy, and stubborn in next to all cases, Earthbenders are nonetheless known for rarely lacking a sense of humor or enjoyment of helping others in need. As well, to help an Earthbender in a problem is to make a friendship that will last a lifetime or longer.

They are also known as being steadfastly loyal - To a fault, often times - And oft remember a debt of theirs long after the event which incurred it has been forgotten, even by those to whom it's owed. They also possess incredible talent for teamwork and recognizing when a leader is needed and who should be the ones to take control of a situation.

Style
For the most part, Earthbenders use a style based on Hun Gar Kung Fu, particularly tiger styles for their strikes and offensive movements and crane styles to land safely back on their feet. To an impressive level, Earthbenders are masters of enduring the attacks of opponents, reading their strengths and weaknesses, and waiting for the best time to attack. Commonly, Earthbenders spend more than half of their basic training on mastering the art of reading an opponent's movements and learning to predict the best time to attack; this is what results in the trademark ability to counter most foes. Masters of this technique can defeat many foes while rooted to one spot.

They are deeply in-tune with the movements of the earth, and though passive traits vary between individuals, trained Earthbenders rarely if ever need sleeping bags or tents to sleep on stone ground; can easily read the emotions of others just by their voices and bodily language; and for some, anticipate deception from another individual or the oncoming of a natural disaster by land. Striking an even balance between offensive and defensive movements, nonetheless, Earthbending is very rigid in most stages of practice below mastery, and requires an opponent to be unable to easily evade their ground-based movements.

Unique Styles
As seen in Toph Bei Fong, there are unique branches of Earthbending technique practiced by certain individuals. Specifically, Toph's style differs in that it is based on Chu Gar Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu.

Tied to the girl's use of "Seismic Sense" to perceive the world due to her blindness, Toph's style utilizes very precise footing and a more fluid, adaptable kind of movement. Despite being technically blind, Toph's accuracy and astute perception of her surroundings surpasses even the remarkable level of insight trademark of Earthbenders.

As well, her style uses some elements of a technique referred to as "sticky hands" in arts such as Chu Gar and Wing Chun: Through one-on-one practice in which one's hands are kept on the partner's arms, the apprentice gains an understanding for reading an opponent's movements. Similar to how Toph reads a foe's movements through contact between the ground and the soles of her feet, sticky hands practicioners predict a foe's actions by staying close and keeping their hands on the opponent's arms, wrists, or hands.

While other unique styles may exist, they have yet to be seen. Also, ironically, Toph is the first notable Earthbender to be named in BZPower Battles, yet is also the only one seen thus far to be adept in a style different from the primary technique. However, as she has taken on at least twenty students on an unnamed Springtime Planet, this style may soon begin to spread outward.

Basic-Level Earthbending
Earth Projectile: Raising a mass of stone and dirt either by hand gestures or by throwing it upward with a stomp, the user then launches it towards the foe via a strike.

Earth Barrier: With a blocking gesture, causes a wall of stone and dirt to jut out of the ground before the user and block an incoming attack.

Tunneling: Either by forming actual passages or by drawing the ground past them in a "swimming" motion, Earthbenders are able to tunnel through the ground so as to unpredictably change their position.

Dust Cloud: By striking the ground quickly, the user can throw up a large mass of dust and debris to obscure the vision of foes.

Adept-Level Earthbending
Mini-Quake: A single stomp causes the immediately local area to shudder violently. This can presumably be used to disturb an opponent's footing, but the only user thus far has mainly only used it to get someone's attention or test her student's Horse Stances.

Fissure: By stomping onto the ground, a narrow crack is opened outward and away from the user. While generally indiscriminate, skilled Earthbenders seem to be capable of keeping its radius of destruction precise.

Trivia

 * It has been confirmed that there are other "bending" arts besides Earthbending, utilizing different elements; the second to be mentioned is Waterbending.
 * While Earthbending is the official term, it has been used sparingly in the actual RPG.