Nonbending Techniques

## Hook Swords

Hook swords, also known as twin hooks, tigerheads, or tiger blades, are three weapons in one: A long pole with a hook at the end, an arced blade above the fist, and spearhead beneath the handle. They were Jet's primary weapons. In addition to combat, Jet also used these to maneuver through the trees. Many years later, the Triple Threat Triad leader Tokuga would also make highly effective use of hook swords in combat.

In the real world, the tigerhead is an exotic Chinese weapon traditionally associated with Northern styles of Chinese martial arts but are now often practiced by Southern styles as well.

Most antique examples and artistic depictions of the tiger blades are from the late Qing Chinese Dynasty or later. The hook swords were an exclusively discreet civilian weapon, appearing in none of the official listings of Chinese armaments. These weapons were also often utilized by Shaolin monks.

Often used in pairs, the hooks of the weapons may be used to trap or deflect other weapons. Modern routines for hook swords are often very flashy and may involve techniques such as linking paired weapons and wielding them as a single long, flexible weapon. They are also known as 'qian kun ri yue dao', meaning "heaven and earth, sun moon sword".

## Dual Broadswords

Dual broadswords, also known as twin broadswords, are two metal blades, specifically designed to chop or slash, that are to be considered as different parts of the same weapon. The swords can also be used individually as single-edged blades and are known to be used in both the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation.

Dual broadswords are moderately curved and single-edged, though often with a few inches of the leading back edge sharpened as well; the moderate curve allows them to be reasonably effective in the thrust. Hilts are canted, curving in the opposite direction as the blade, which improves handling in some forms of cuts and thrusts. Cord is usually wrapped over the wood of the handle. Hilts may also be pierced like those of the jian, a straight-bladed sword, for the addition of lanyards. The dual broadswords also had specially-shaped guards that allowed both blades to be sheathed in a single scabbard.

## Chi Blocking

*Chi blocking* is an ancient technique that has been practiced in secret for centuries. Blocking someone's chi renders the victim's muscles useless and temporarily disables a bender's abilities. It is mainly used by nonbenders as a way of self-defense or even to attack. This ability was notably used in combat by Ty Lee, the Kyoshi Warriors, Thod and his disciples, the Equalists, and Tokuga.

#### ***Method***

Chi blocking relies on rapidly hitting pressure points with quick jabs and punches, often giving little time for the recipient to react. Ty Lee hit those pressure points with relatively light jabs using her fingers and knuckles, though any fingers can be used, such as when Ty Lee disabled Katara with her thumb. Ty Lee could also use her feet to disable others' chi flow; she used this method to fend off the boys who cornered her in Chan's house.

A more temporary form of chi blocking can be used against combustionbenders, such as Combustion Man and P'Li. Combustionbending requires good chi flow and a properly calibrated focus in order to be effective. The practitioners of this technique channel that chi through the forehead, often marked by an intricate third-eye tattoo, making that their most notable weak spot. Employing the same idea of chi blocking, combustionbending can be temporarily disabled by striking the third-eye tattoo from close-up or from a distance with an object to disrupt the flow of chi.

#### ***Effects***

Chi blocking stops a bender's chi flow, reduces their muscular strength, and disables their bending abilities temporarily; this would be particularly devastating for people who rely solely on their bending to fight. A master chi blocker is able to control the damage done by the technique: when Ty Lee first attacked Katara with the art, the latter was still able to move though not bend, but when Ty Lee assaulted the Terra Team, they could barely move, were powerless, and felt pain afterward. Katara later attempted to heal the fallen men but noted that they had been completely cut off from their chi, placing them beyond her help.

Azula described the chi blocking sensation as a feeling of all the joints going soft, "like they're made of melted wax", and one felt "more flexible than you ever thought possible" the moment the chi blocking effect wore off completely.

#### ***Weaknesses***

**Anticipation:** Although a useful method of fighting, chi blocking is most effective against an opponent not expecting such a light blow to be so devastating. When confronted with someone knowledgeable about chi blocking, they can anticipate the attack and adapt their fighting style to avoid being struck, as demonstrated by Suki when she faced off a second time against Ty Lee atop the gondola. When a bender knows they are fighting a chi blocker, they can use their bending to keep the chi blocker at bay with long-range attacks, preventing them from executing their technique.

**Metal armor:** Since chi blocking relies on the ability of hitting pressure points, a strong armor is capable of deflecting the crippling blows. To this end, Sokka designed chain mail armor to deceive Thod and his students, and the Republic City Police Department donned segmented metal armor as their standard uniform to withstand the attacks from chi blocking Equalists.