I'm very sorry to say that I have to completely disagree with you here. Your understanding of how useful a martial art is seems to be tied into its success as a sport, and if that's what you believe then you and I are unlikely to agree on the efficacy of martial arts.

That's a fine story-based interpretation of the development, but it doesn't explain the fact that Korra, after years of training from a young age in not one, but three close quarters martial arts, fights like an MMA kickboxer hitting a practice dummy.

Yes, because splitting a boulder with two shims jabbed into two separate places is much, much easier. :P

I'm sure you might think so. I'd recommend comparing TLA earthbenders such as young Toph with Kuvira's movements. All I can see is how completely disconnected her upper body and lower body movements are, and how she's lifting things with her shoulders and biceps instead of her legs, which is a cardinal sin in any…

As someone who tragically studies martial arts, I've come to appreciate the way small changes in weight balance and limb placement can produce dramatic changes in power. The very graceful, intricate motions that made me so enamored with The Last Airbender's fighting are completely absent in the new series, where…

(See also: https://www.youtube.com/wat…