Earthbending

A style of martial art that affects rock and soil, Earthbending is characterized by its even balance between offense and defense. However, unlike Waterbending - Which incorporates the two objectives into unified movements - Earthbending maintains a separation between them.

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 as 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; as well as specifically who should be the ones to take control of a situation.

Origin
Much like several martial arts of real life, Earthbending's origins are rooted in beasts of the natural world.

By observing the movements of creatures referred to as Badgermoles, humans first learned movements which they developed into slightly varied martial arts. They used these arts in self-defense, as well as for military combat.

In time, prolonged contact with Badgermoles while training their technique resulted in humans learning to manipulate rock and soil in the same way that Badgermoles themselves still today use in tunneling through the earth they inhabit.

Totally blind, Badgermoles likely perceive the world via "Seismic Sense" in the same way as Toph Bei Fong, who personally learned her Earthbending technique by observing Badgermoles on the planet of Fanrong. She is believed to be the only person alive who personally learned Earthbending from Badgermoles instead of training beneath another human.

Style
For the most part, Earthbenders use a style based on Hung 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.

As perfectly demonstrated by Toph Bei Fong's application of "Seismic Sense" to read the ground, Earthbenders wait and listen for the right time to act, then act without any doubt in themselves. Key to Earthbending is the ability to act and react with true decisiveness. When the time comes to strike, it must be done without hesitation or uncertainty. If an Earthbender lacks determination, the earth will not respond to their form.

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, despite also often having the capability to be highly mobile while using their art. However, Earthbenders require constant contact with some matter of their element to be able in combat at all.

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 recline on stone ground which would leave others racked by aches and pains; can easily read the emotions of others just by their voices and body language; and for some, can anticipate deception from another individual or the oncoming of a natural disaster by land. As well, one of Earthbending's greatest strengths is how it can be altered slightly to suit different needs.

Striking an even balance between offensive and defensive movements, nonetheless, Earthbending is very rigid in stages of practice below mastery for next to all users, and requires an opponent to be unable to easily evade their ground-based movements. Thus, should they encounter an opponent who is unusually adept in aerial leaps, etc., and has great talent in dodging various attacks, Earthbenders are put at a serious disadvantage and can easily find themselves left sitting ducks.

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. Part of the difference in her style is that she learned first-hand by imitating the original Badgermole users of the art, rather than learning from another human like most Earthbenders.

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. In effect, the acute potency of Toph's Earthbending is largely due to how she uses Earthbending as a replacement for sight.

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 a practicioners'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 own 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 the Springtime Planet called Fanrong, this style may soon begin to spread outward.

Basic-Level Earthbending
Earth Manipulation: The most basic form of Earthbending is centered on directing soil and rock, and it is from this basic skill that all other Earthbending skills branch.

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.

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, allowing the user to reposition or escape from battle.

Earth Crumbling: It is a simple matter for Earthbenders to crumble soil and stone, allowing them to access passages and rooms otherwise blocked off.

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

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.