#northern shaolin

[sifu-kisu]

I’ve sensed a stir of discontent surrounding my thoughts on the live-action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender. please allow me to illuminate my perspective. In the animated series, we poured our hearts into crafting the action, for ATLA is at its core essence, a martial arts odyssey, even an epic—an art form that I’ve spent much of my life mastering, practicing, and teaching with unwavering devotion.

The live-action adaptation, however, seemed to stumble over the very foundation that made the original so captivating. To me, it felt as though the essence of the source material was either misunderstood or disregarded. The choreography (or lack there of..) , which should have been a dynamic homage to the intricate art of bending, came across as lackluster and devoid of the authentic martial arts movements that once breathed life into it. Firebending for instance, is not like tossing a stone. It has a process that entails a beginning a middle and end…

That being said, I’ll concede that the costumes and some of the special effects caught my eye, but beyond those fleeting moments, I found little to hold onto. Am i “mad” about it? Nope. Was I upset about not working on the project? Nope. (I don’t do that sort of work anymore.) I’m just enjoying my life, And let me make one thing clear—my opinion is mine alone.

Be well😋

[modernmutiny]

I'm only on ep one of the live action atla and all I have to say so far is that all the fighters need more martial arts training. Or any, really.

[valpwca]

"On grocery store excursions, I never actually laid eyes on the mythical milk of human kindness, but never doubted the existence of at least some version of it—perhaps the Lactaid of human civility?"

-Shit Turd, Feral Creatures by Kira Jane Buxton

[tazahan]

My second delulu Mortal Kombat OC. Harald Hávarôr. Father of my first oc, Áila. A Viking descendant Earthrealm champion on Liu Kang's side. He was also Liu Kang's former pupil & now he wanted his daughter to follow in his footsteps under Liu Kang's guidance. To enrich her knowledge and her potential. He is one of his clan's chiefs and a former OIA lieutenant. His clan named Sol Eldur has been allied with Earthrealm protection factions for centuries under Liu Kang's wings including the Lin Kuei. His power is heliokinesis. He mastered a few martial arts such as Glima, Hung Ga Kuen, Northern Shaolin, and a little bit of Taekwondo. Johnny always teased him with the name "Kung Fu Viking". He sometimes can be a little over-protective towards his daughter and his family.

Raiden, Kung Lao, and Tomas are his favorites, and he without any hesitation would adopt them or choose one of them to be his future son-in-law. That always made Áila palmed her face in shame. Harlad was also a close friend of Lin Kuei bros' father until the end. His passing was quite upsetting to him. Many people feel intimidated if they meet him for the first time, but in fact, he is a gentle giant. And would give you a big bear hug.

[cienie-isengardu]

Bi-Han and Kuai Liang through the timelines, p.1

>> MORTAL KOMBAT II (1993)

Sub-Zero (Kuai Liang)'s BIO

"Thought to have been killed in the Shaolin Tournament, Sub-Zero mysteriously returns. It is believed he traveled into the Outworld to again attempt to assassinate Shang Tsung. To do so he must fight his way through Shao Kahn's tournament."

Sub-Zero (Kuai Liang)'s ENDING

"When Sub-Zero failed to return from the Shaolin tournament and rumor of Shang Tsung's survival reached the Lin Kuei clan, they immediately sent another assassin to complete the task. This new warrior is actually the younger brother of the original Sub-Zero. He enters the Outworld contest and accomplishes his task. He learns of Scorpion's foul vendetta against his brother, but will never know why his life was spared. Perhaps a third tournament is in his future?"

>> MORTAL KOMBAT II COLLECTOR'S EDITION COMIC BOOK (199?)

Liu Kang: You are not Sub-Zero. I saw him die. Murdered by Specter called Scorpion. Kuai Liang: Yes, we all have our ghosts. The Sub-Zero you saw killed was my older brother. He was stubborn in many ways. Refused to utilize modern technology on his missions. A shame, really. He was among the Lin Kuei's finest -- although fast becoming obsolete. I am taking his place -- and as I am slowly discovering, inheriting some of his ghosts. [...]

Scorpion (to Reptile): The Lin Kuei's life is not yours for the taking. Only I, Scorpion, will dictate when his life is over. For I am a warrior not of this Earth -- but from the very depths of its hell. My life was taken my Lin Kuei known as Sub-Zero. I killed my murderer, thus my journey for revenge is complete. This is not the same Sub-Zero. But I return with a new mission. I have taken a lifee -- now I must devote myself to protecting one. Kuai Liang: If this is my brother's assassin shouldn't I strike him down?

>> MORTAL KOMBAT: TOURNAMENT EDITION - “A COLD DAY IN HELL” (1995)

For the context: the main story of comics is about two teams, representing Outworld and Earthrealm that compete in Shao Kahn's game. "Bi-Han" took part in it as one of good guys and won the challenge for Earthrealm. However he paid for that victory with his life due to confrontation with Scorpion (Hanzo Hasashi). In the epilogue of comics, Lin Kuei ninjas are seen in Japan two months after "Bi-Han"'s death looking for "Kuai Liang":

Kuai Liang: Treachery and deceit were not part of the Lin Kuei Order when my brother was a part of it. I denounce this clan as being unworthy. Unworthy of the continued services of Sub-Zero.

>> MYTHOLOGIES: SUB-ZERO (1997)

From Game Official Site:

Somewhere in the northern most parts of Asia, there exists a secret clan of assassins and thieves known as the Lin Kuei. This group has existed for centuries and thrives on the evil intention of the people who pay for their services. Its warriors are chosen at birth to be raised apart from the workings of day to day civilization and are stripped of their former lives. Only the clan knows their existence. Each of them posses certain skills and abilities that set them apart from normal men. These abilities are passed on from generation to generation and honed throughout the experiences of life. Born in America, Sub-Zero was the oldest of three children, which included a brother and sister. Their mother wanted a normal life for her sons, who had already been chosen by the Lin Kuei to become warriors for the clan. She tried in vein to hide them from their father whose own life in America was only a cover for his true identity and purpose. Eventually they were found and their father returned with them to his homeland. Their mother and sister were never seen or heard from again. Sub-Zero learned of his ability as a young adult. It was passed on to him by his father, a fourth generation Lin Kuei warrior himself. The ability to harness the element of cold is one that takes years of practice. It's full potential realized only by those who've mastered it at the latest stages of life. Sub-Zero's skills have the ability to develop much faster than those of the other Lin Kuei. This was realized by the Lin Kuei Grandmasters who picked the young warrior to take his deceased father's place as the next Sub-Zero.

>> MORTAL KOMBAT 4 Limited Edition Comics (1997)

Narrator box: Several days later on Earth, Sub-Zero returns to China, to the ancient Temple of the Elements. The Temple's location is secret, but Sub-Zero learned how to find it from his older brother, the original Sub-Zero. *Flashback* Kuai Liang: What is the Temple of the Elements? Bi-Han: The Temple of the Elements exists to protect Shinnok's sacred amulet. The Amulet that keeps him trapped in the Netherrealm. It's protected by the four Elements -- Wind, Earth, Water and Fire. As long as the amulet remains on Earth, Shinnok cannot escape the Netherrealm. *End of flashback* Kuai Liang *holding his Sub-Zero's mask*: What has happened here brother? I came here to make peace with the gods of the Elements that you fought. But they're all gone. The Temple is unguarded.

Liu Kang: Sub-Zero! Kuai Liang: Liu's right. Shinnok is evil incarnate. I think my brother, the original Sub-Zero, had some sort of an encounter with Shinnok. Iy may be what caused the whole thing. It's up to us to put an end to this.

Side note: In Mythologies: Sub-Zero, Bi-Han said he had never heard about Shinnok or Netherrealm before:

Rayden: Do you realize what you've done?? Sub-Zero: I was just earning my living. Rayden: Your clan's ignorance and greed will cost this entire realm. You must now set things straight. Sub-Zero: Quan Chi could simply be a lunatic sorcerer. I've never heard of an elder god named Shinnok or of a place called the Netherealm. Rayden: Well, you'd better start believing in both, because you're going to the Netherealm and you're going to bring the amulet back. We must act quickly. I have no dominion in the Netherealm... You are reality's only hope. Sub-Zero: I'll do it, Thunder God... but only because I have no choice.

If Bi-Han, the "most cunning assassin and thief" according to Lin Kuei Grandmaster, had no idea of Netherrealm or threat of Shinnok, thus it is safe to assume Kuai Liang had no such knowledge either. Kuai Liang learning from his brother about Shinnok is mentioned in MK4 Sub-Zero's BIO (seen below).

(Mythologies: Sub-Zero's dialogues copied from here)

>> MORTAL KOMBAT 4 (1997)

Sub-Zero (Kuai Liang)'s BIO:

"After Shao Kahn's defeat at the hands of Earth's fighters, Sub-Zero's warrior clan known as the Lin Kuei is disbanded. But with the new threat brought on by Quan Chi, the ice warrior once again dons the familiar costume once worn by his brother, the original Sub-Zero. He also holds secrets passed onto him from his sibling... secrets that could hold the key to stopping Shinnok."

Kuai Liang's Ending:

Sub-Zero: The battle is finished! Your quest for vengeance is over, Scorpion! Scorpion: You cannot kill a dead man! You have defeated my physical form, but my soul is eternal. You will pay for the massacre of my clan and family! (Quan Chi sneaks up on Sub-Zero and knocks him down) Quan Chi: Well done, Sub-Zero. Like your brother before you, you have served my purposes well. Sub-Zero: I serve no one! Not the Lin Kuei, and not you! (Quan Chi stomps him) AAAUGH!!! Quan Chi: Scorpion agreed to fight for us in exchange for freedom from the Netherrealm. A deal I had no intention of fulfilling. By killing him, you saved us the trouble. Both you and Scorpion were pawns for Shinnok... (Scorpion stands up and uses his powers to make Quan Chi levitate) Scorpion!!! NOOOO- (Scorpion releases an energy sphere that destroys Quan Chi) Scorpion: Our battle is finished. You are now freed from my curse. Live well, Lin Kuei warrior.

(script copied from MK wiki)

Scorpion (Hanzo Hasashi)'s ending:

Scorpion: By defeating you, Sub-Zero, I have avenged the death of my family and clan. Now my soul can finally rest. Sub-Zero: Your soul will never rest, Scorpion. The Lin Kuei may have been responsible for your murder... But your family's true killer still remains free... Scorpion: If you are not the murderer, then who is? Quan Chi: (comes in) I am the one you seek. To defeat my nemesis Sub-Zero, I needed the power of a spectre. You've done my bidding well, Scorpion. But now, I must return you to the Netherrealm. (Quan Chi performs a spell that starts engulfing Scorpion, intending to take him to the Netherrealm) Scorpion: NEVER!!! (runs towards Quan Chi and tackles him before disappearing. Both reappear in the Netherrealm) Quan Chi: NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

(script copied from MK wiki)

>> SHAOLIN MONKS (2004)

Sub-Zero (Kuai Liang)'s BIO:

"With his mastery of cold, Sub-Zero freezes his opponent into submission. Though his loyalties lie firmly with his clan, the Lin Kuei, his purpose in Outworld is known only to him."

Story Mode:

Kuai Liang: The man you saw die was my brother. And I am not even certain he is truly dead. I came here to avenge him and believe that he may still yet live in one form or another. I've been told that if I can find some vestige of his power... I may find him.

and

Kuai Liang: Don't take another step, or I'll stop you myself! Liu Kang: Sub-Zero... Kung Lao: What happened to Scorpion? I thought you were after him. Kuai Liang: I was. Scorpion is still here, but I will not allow you to face Noob Saibot. Liu Kang: Noob Saibot? Kung Lao (to Liu Kang): For all we know, this could be Shang Tsung. He's trying to stop us from getting the key to save Earth. Kuai Liang: Do not worry. He does not serve Shang Tsung. He is possessed by one of the Elder Gods. There is more than just Shang Tsung's attempt to invade Earthrealm. The gods are involved. Liu Kang: How do you know Noob Saibot is not a part of this? Kuai Liang: Because, I... I think he is my brother. If you want to defeat Shang Tsung, defeat Scorpion. [...] Liu Kang: If your brother is possessed, how can you help him? He'll most likely try to kill you again. Kuai Liang: I will find a way to free him. Kung Lao: That could take a long time. Kuai Liang: As long as it takes. Finding Scorpion should not be as hard. He wants to kill you.

[boyjumps]

“No merit. When you expect something in return, any action becomes a hardship. Zen rejects merit.” - Zen teachings

Bodhidharma (5th-6th century: date of birth and death unknown) was a Buddhist monk who, though born the third prince of the king of India, went to China and was the first to introduce Zen.

Legend has it that Master Bodhidharma's limbs rotted away after nine years of zazen (sitting zen meditation) against a wall. It is a myth. Zazen is not about sitting all the time. Monks walk in certain areas to prevent drowsiness and for exercise, known as kinhin (meditation performed while walking). So they can never lose their limbs.

When Bodhidharma first arrived in China, he met Emperor Wu of Liang (464-549). Emperor Wu asked him, “Since thee entered the service, thee have built many temples, copied sutra scrolls and ordained monks and nuns, what merit do these deeds have?” To which he replied, “No merit (There is no such thing as merit).” The Wu Emperor hurriedly asked another question, “Then what is the Supreme First Truth?” “Open, empty and unremarkable,” said Bodhidharma. “Then I ask thee, who is against thee?” “No idea,” Bodhidharma replied, gave up on the Wu Emperor and left, entering the Shaolin Monastery in the Northern Wei Kingdom. He then spent nine years in zazen (sitting zen meditation) at the Shaolin temple.

By the way, why did Bodhidharma say those his deeds had great merit were 'no merit'? Simply put, because Zen abhors merit.

Bodhidharma is saying “You should enjoy the act of doing whatever you do. Why are you thinking so foolishly? Don't worry about merit, just enjoy your work.”

In any case, acts done with a sense of merit are impure. For example, even when being kind to others, do it while enjoying the act of kindness and appreciating the other person. It is not the person who is being kind that should be grateful, but the person who has done the kindness.

Disappointed by Emperor Wu of Liang, who did not understand this, Bodhidharma entered the Shaolin Temple, where he spent nine years in zazen against the wall.

[yikes-kachowski]

hello! I was born deaf and I've been doing martial arts (muay thai, MMA, traditional South Asian swordfighting, and currently diving into Northern Shaolin) for about 5 years. please tell me more about Amaruq!

I spent a lot of time thinking on this because I didn't wanna let you down 😭😭. Usually it takes me around a year to fully develop an OC, so I'm sorry if these seem shallow to you.

First of all, I think he's funny. Every deaf person I've seen/met is funny, and so is Sokka, so it all makes sense.

Secondly, he always has his tools/weapons wrapped in noise dampening cloths or leather, so they don't make noise when he sneaks. Noise discipline is still something he's very good at because of this.

His family ALWAYS talks while signing, even if they aren't talking to him, even if he's not there.

He's constantly underestimated, and it's really hurtful. They're always wrong, and he trains really hard to make sure of it. But it's still really hard, he's not made of stone. He wishes it weren't like that all the time.

His love of mapping comes from going on mapping expeditions with Sokka.

He respects women SO much thanks to Suki.

He is a morning person and goes to bed early.

He loves boring books like "the history of salt", he just finds it fascinating.

I'm sorry if this wasn't what you were looking for! I did my best here. If you want this character, he's absolutely yours. I don't mind anyone using the OCs I've come up with in asks :)

[hotstreak2k3]

Kung Fu Peach? Now that is what’s up. No need for Mario to rescue her from the Koopas when she is practitioner of Tai Chi style, Hung Ga style, The Northern Shaolin style, and Baguazhang forms.🐉🐯☯️

[sunny-does-jjk]

The urge to combine Jogo's movements and techniques with ATLA's firebending (Northern Shaolin Kung Fu) styles are so strong rn

I have way too many ideas yet so little time ong

[russenoire]

i'm now about halfway through avatar: the last airbender s2 (and halfway through the entire series). and i have thoughts.

i regret missing out on this while it was airing. chest deep in anime at the time, i'd largely turned my back on american TV animation and was in the midst of wrapping up a bachelor's degree. A:TLA would probably have won me over then too. it holds its own as a story so well even now, i don't mind being two decades late to the party.

A:TLA takes place in a constructed world largely based on ancient china, with recognizable chunks from many, many other east asian peoples and subarctic indigenous nations stirred in. american fantasy worlds rooted in real-world places often tend towards this kind of racist pan-cultural stew (black panther—my deep abiding love for it otherwise—is another example) and A:TLA, a dish that manages to be both deeply honorable and kinda disrespectful, is no exception.

for every display of cultural respect:

all the chinese text in the show is real, supervised and/or translated by ming dynasty historian, research scientist and calligrapher dr. siu-leung lee.

the selection process for the avatar closely mirrors that for the actual dalai lama, right down to the search for a child born around the time of the previous lama’s death who picks his relics out of a collection of possible playthings.

the elemental bending techniques and fight choreography are derived from real chinese martial art forms. 5th gen northern shaolin master sifu kisu, the series' main martial arts consultant, chose a form for each element based on its movements and/or philosophy. the water tribes use t'ai chi; earthbenders use the hung gar style of kung fu (and the blind earthbender toph fights with her own aggressive and rare style, chow gar kung fu); the fire nation use northern shaolin kung fu; and the air nomads use ba gua zhang, a style characterized by spinning and other circular motions.

aang sits with a guru who teaches him how to unlock his chakras at one point, and his explanation respects both aang's level of maturity and the complexity of the concept as laid out in hinduism.

avatar roku’s fire temple contains a lotus-petal shaped flame motif common in thai art and architecture; ty lee and katara wear split skirts that resemble those worn by thai performers of a ballet retelling of the hindu epic ramayana (it’s called ramakien in thailand). thai (and burmese!) traditional dance/theatre costume and armor show up everywhere in the fire nation, especially in the military garb. even zuko’s topknot is a traditional thai hairstyle (for children).

there are perhaps two or three of ignorance or apathy.

names in mandarin chinese, korean, tibetan, sanskrit or japanese are mostly butchered; mandarin sees the worst abuse because it's used most often. A:TLA was released at a time when it was still not uncommon for US anime distributors to change japanese names outright in localizations; producers figured 'american-sounding' names would go down easier with audiences. given this, i'm not surprised a mid-2000s american production inspired by anime wouldn't give a toss about names in other asian languages: most americans don't care. (personally i find the mispronounced names far harder to stomach than the dollops of buddhist-daoist-hindu philosophy purée: while A:TLA’s painstaking worldbuilding, tight plot and excellent voice acting make the show's faults stand out all the more, its spiritual aspects aren't a major focus.)

someone thought it would be a good idea to give a group of swamp dwellers vaguely cajun accents. whyyyyy.

the blending (read: conflation) of cultures ignores existing tensions and centuries of cross-pollination in ways that can be offensive. there are many, many other nods to thai (and vietnamese! and burmese! and...) culture in clothing, setting and architecture across the series, but the showrunners made no effort to educate viewers on the provenance of any of these smaller influences. people of non-chinese east asian ancestries already get mistaken for chinese by americans who assume they’re all the same.

and yet. while looking to cartoons for cultural sensitivity may be a fool's errand, A:TLA gets a lot right, particularly when it comes to its characters.

more about the people of A:TLA to follow in a subsequent post.

[gryfflepuffinthetardis]

Zoe Noble-Valdez 2005-2006 Season One Bio

Full name: Xiomara Alexandra "Zoe" Noble-Valdez

IQ: Unmeasured but extraordinarily high; presumed to be from at least 190 at lowest but can be estimated 225 to 300 or higher. (Not public knowledge)

Appearance: Fair olive complexion; Wavy dark brown nearly black hair with light green and purple dyed streaks, Dark brown/amber-ish eyes, Five foot Three

Personality: Compassionate, Intelligent, Quiet, Observant, Sarcastic, Empathetic, Open-Minded, Accepting, Hyper, Curious, Creative, Hides pain, Fakes apathy, Thinks outside the box, Mischievous, Fierce, Sneaky, Lazy, Impulsive, Doesn't think things through, Snarky, Sassy, Mocking, Fakes evilness, Brutal, Violent, Protective, Acerbic, Eccedentesiast, Self-loathing,  Overprotective, Humble, Traumatized, Guilt-ridden, Hot and cold, Perceptive, Intuitive, Hard-working, Forgiving yet merciless, Paradoxical, Strong-Willed, Jaded, Smart-Mouthed

Personality Notes:

Zoe's personality and work behavior is blend of her mentors plus her own, primarily the eccentric Alexander Noble, the studious and highly intelligent Zelena Valdez, the gentle and quiet Jason Gideon, the emotionally closed off, driven, and brutal David Rossi, and the near sociopathic and violent Maze Valdez.

She can be a bit manipulative in her pursuits of getting the outcomes she wants which she learned from Gideon

Because of her ADHD, she can be oblivious to the feelings of others sometimes but makes a conscious effort to keep them in mind

Zoe's way of dealing with events are complicated, she has a lot of trauma for a nineteen-year-old girl and one of her ways of protecting herself is mentally blocking the memories so she's missing time. The first time was five days when she was twelve. And she's missing a lot of memories of those eight months when she was fifteen and missing some memories during the six months when she was seventeen to eighteen.

Zoe is and appears to be impulsive but this does not mean she does not have a plan in motion, she's just constantly forming possible plans and calcualting possible outcomes in her head.

Due to her neurodivergence, Zoe relates to the UnSubs, she rarely sees them as monsters, she remains open-minded and sees possibilties of good and bad in people. She doesn't see things in black and white but in color.

Tendencies: Mania, Depressive episodes, Being an overachiever to distract herself from her guilt; Recklessness to the point of concern for suicidal behavior; Apathetic facade

Personality Type: INFP (Her anger comes from a defense mechanism that she uses to push people away to keep her from getting hurt again and her combination of disorders

Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff

Abilities: Bilingual (Fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese; not fluent but well-versed in multiple other languages; She can speak most languages but she can’t read them.)

Self-Defense/Martial Arts (Most kinds; Karate, Kick-boxing, Jiu-Jitsu, Kung fu, Tai-Chi, Qigong, , Krav Maga, Fencing, Jeet Kune Do, Jun Fan Gung Fu, Wing Chun, Arnis, Judo, Savate, Taekwondo, Tai Chi, Catch Wrestling, Street fighting, Hapkido, Aikido, Northern Shaolin, Wrestling, Ninjustsu, Military Combatives, Capoeira, Close Quarter Combat/CQC, Systema, Muay Thai, Eskrima, Savate, Bokator, etcetera.

Favors Mixed Martial Arts and Hybrid Martial Arts due to unpredictability. She does have her favorite that she uses to mix into hybrids either from the style or the philosophy, Krav Maga (Aggressiveness, fighting-spirit, situational awareness, , Judo (Gentle, kindness, balance, timing, strategy, tactics), Taekwondo (Demands sacrifices, self restraint, kindness, forgiveness and a love of one's fellow human beings; Self-control, courage, courtesy, respect, perseverance, patience, humility, thoughtfulness, boldness, trustworthiness, loyalty, integrity, an indomitable spirit, a sense of responsibility to help and respect all forms of life, goodness), Shaolin (Kindness, Compassion, patience, discipline, self-awareness, loyalty, trust, perseverance, patience, self-control, benevolence, discipline, mindfulness, acceptance.), Eskirma (see below), Savate, etcetera  

Also favors Eskrima (A form of weapon-based fighting, using various improvised weapons) (Possibly value creativity and imagination), Bokator (Characterized by hand to hand combat along with heavy use of weapons, using a diverse array of elbow and knee strikes, shin kicks, submissions, and ground fighting. Some of the weapons used in bokator include the bamboo staff, short sticks, a sword, and a lotus stick.), Savate (A French kickboxing combat sport that uses the hands and feet as weapons  combining elements of English boxing with graceful kicking techniques, despite its grave and beauty its an effective method of self-defense; Possibly value technique, Endurance, Strength, Grace)

Weapon Proficiency (Archery, Knife Combat, Gunfighting, Swordsmanship, Stick-fighting, etc)

Gymnastics

High intelligence (estimated to be in the 200’s; Claims she never took an IQ test; if she did only very few people know the score)

Detective brain (Sherlock Scan, look on TVtropes.org under real life, people with ADHD or ADD develop this way of thinking to compensate for our short attention spans, and we can use it to figure out what we've missed after zoning out, whether, at school or work or conversations. This can likely bleed into other aspects of our lives, resulting in people who can connect things together and figure things out before the average neurotypical person, unfortunately due to our tendency to be oblivious/distracted/unfocused, this will also make us miss things that are completely obvious to other people)

Exceptional Memory — Zoe has an exceptional memory, even being able to remember being in the womb at times and it was once thought she had Hyperthymesia however her ADHD made it unable to determine if this was actually true. It was also unable to determine whether she had a photographic or eidetic memory as she claims to be able to see images from her past at times but can also quite recall small details. Due to her ADHD, moments where she just wasn’t paying attention fall flat to her memory but she does however excel in remembering scenes in which she was hyper focusing, auditory memory, and is speculated to have an emotional photographic memory. Zoe also has psychological blocks in her memories that cause her to be unable to remember a lot of her trauma and she is unwilling to remember unless absolutely necessary.

Auditory memory (Like Spencer’s eidetic memory but with hearing information rather than seeing or reading them; but again her ADHD may impair this)

Emotional Photographic Memory — Zoe does not remember those five days in 1998 she was kidnapped but she does remember vividly remember the strong emotions she felt and refuses to remember them. Her memory of her missing eight months when she was fifteen and parts of her six months when she was eighteen/nineteen is better and more vivid due to the maturity she had gone through and at times she is able to replay hidden memories if she follows the feeling in her head.

Degrees: Criminology, Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Sociology, Biology, Forensics, Philosophy, Criminal Justice, Forensic Psychology, Forensic Science, Behavioral Science, Physical Science, Nursing, Counseling, Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, Toxicology, Pharmacology, Neuroscience, Neurobiology, Neurology

Items/Possessions: Various weapons; Various self-defense weapons, Various multiuse tools; Various tools; Revolver; Marine Turbine Technology Y2K motorcycle, Portable Med Kit Fanny Pack

Likes: Detective Works, Theatre, True Crime, Horror, Psychology, Philosophy, Rebelliousness, Children, Unsolved Mysteries, TV shows, Audiobooks, Horror movies, Horror books, Stephen King, Being a mystery, Profiling people, Theories, Serial Killers, Hacking, People underestimating her, Chaos, Causing chaos, Justice

Dislikes: Sports (so no Redskins), Conflict, Rivalry (so she doesn't participate in rivalry against Spencer Reid), Being told what to do, Feeling inferior, Sexism, Discrimination of any kind especially sexism and mentalism (discrimination of mental illnesses), Being forced to act like an adult, Adults, Abuse, Emotions, Letting people in, Math, Skepticism, Responsibility, People profiling her, Emotions, Confronting emotions, Classical music, Boston!!!!

Favorite Films: Heathers; Beetlejuice; Clue; Addams Family; The Addams Family Values; Psycho; Halloween: The Shining: Alien Series: Back to the Future Trilogy, Star Wars franchise, American Psycho, Hocus Pocus. Men in Black movies; Doctor Doolittle, Ghostbusters movies, Gremlins movies, Home Alone Diptych, Ace Ventura movies, The Mask, Ten Things I Hate About You, The Breakfast Club, Goonies, The Outsiders, Jumanji, Scream Franchise, The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari, The Thing, The Blob

Favorite TV Shows: Doctor Who, Malcolm in the Middle, Takin' Over the Asylum, Friends, Charmed, Doogie Howser

Favorite Authors: David Rossi, Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe, Lewis Carroll, Oscar Wilde, Dante Alighieri, R.L. Stein, J.K. Rowling, Alfred Noyes

Favorite Books: Harry Potter series; A Wrinkle in Time; Matilda; Jane Eyre; The Book Thief; Girl, Interrupted; We Need to Talk About Kevin; The Giver; Good Omens

Favorite Characters (She looked up to them as a child and left imprints on her personality): Sherlock Holmes, Piper Halliwell, Phoebe Halliwell, Alice Kingsley (From Alice in Wonderland), Lucy Pevensie

Favorite Songs: Running Up That Hill, Poker Face, Killer Queen by Queen, Carry On my Wayward Son, Mad World, Numb, Blackbird

Theme Songs (Songs that the character relates to or sums up her character): Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush (1985); Numb by Linkin Park, Mad World by Tear For Fears (1982), ‘Til It Happens To You by Lady Gaga, True Colors by Cyndi Lauper (1986), Africa by Toto (1982), Brave by Moriah, One More Light by Linkin Park, Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas, Perfect by P!nk, Look What You Made Me Do by Taylor Swift, Who's Afraid of Little Old Me by Taylor Swift

Disorders:

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder);

Cyclothymia (Rare mood disorder, essentially it’s a mild form of Bipolar but still difficult to live with, this may overlap into Bipolar II meaning Psychotic Depression/Mania or less conserversally Depression/Mania with Psychosis which can include: For Depression: Suicidal levels of depression, For mania, Suicidal Recklessness, Possibility of Bipolar Blackout)

C-PTSD (Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Survivor's Guilt

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Disorder

Emotional Detachment or Dissociation (Lack of connection between thoughts, memory, and self of identity from three years prior)

Possible Disorders: High Functioning Borderline Personality Disorder (Without splitting meaning seeing things in extremes and some others I can’t quite recall right now)

Birthday: October 31, 1985

Age: Nineteen to twenty years old. 

Family: (Full name; Relation; Status if otherwise not alive and located; Portrayal)

Alexander Noble (Father; Born 1965) — David Tennant

Zarah Carina Noble-Valdez (Twin sister; Missing, Presumed Dead by most) — Selena Gomez

Zelena Lara Valdez (Mother; Deceased; Born 1963) — Melissa Fumero (I know she’s technically Cuban and Selena Gomez is half-Hispanic but they kind of look like each other, like they could be related)

Isobel Noble (Aunt; Lives in Scotland) — Karen Gillian

Multiple female cousins birthed by Isobel Noble — Zoe Colletti (Lucy from Only Murders in the Building); Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield from Stranger Things, Ziggy from Fear Street); Zoey Deutch

Cain Noble ("Paternal" Grandfather; Estranged) — Ray Wise

(Extended family on her mother's side; Work in Progress)

Mazikeen "Maze" Valdez (Maternal Second Cousin) — Lesley-Ann Brandt

Ciara Valdez (Aunt) — Aimee Garcia

Kalypso Valdez (Cousin; Incarcerated in Las Vegas at Bennington Sanitarium) — Diane Guerrero

Aliases/Nicknames:

Rebel Girl

Rebel

Wildcard

Loose Cannon

La Llorona (Literal Translation: Weeping Woman; Also popular figure in Mexican Folklore)

Santa Muerte (Saint of Death/Lady of Death)

Religion/Belief: Mexican Folk Catholicism-Neopaganism (Typical Day of the Dead/Santa Muerte/Afterlife/Guardians)

Wardrobe: Plaid, Flannel, Leather, Graphic

Jewelry: Evil eye; Various jewelry

Other features: Santa Muerte tattoo, Sugar Skull/Day of the Dead Skull tattoo with the name and characteristics of someone very important to her who has passed (she only tattoos the names of people she considers changed her life and wish to give her protection from the afterlife or even stay with her and watch over her)

Skull Tattoos Of:

Zelena Valdez (Died October 31, 1985)

Zarah Valdez the first (Died May 23, 1985)

Traditions: Day of the Dead, Keeping up ofrendas (Day of the Dead altars) all year long

Personal Traditions: Making Day of the Dead skulls with characteristics of someone's loved one who died and giving it to one to those who are grieving the loss of said dead loved one; Scrapbooks of those she saved and failed, Journals of detailed profiles

Relationships:

Alexander Noble — She has a close relationship with her father as both her mother and sister are now gone, he raised her and her sister by himself while becoming one of the FBI's most esteemed agents and he loves her with all his heart. He shows more emotion in this aspect than she does as she suffers from emotional detachment, dissociation, and lack of connection between thoughts, memory, and self of identity from four years prior. However, his enhanced emotions and his job caused him to be too paranoid to leave them with a sitter when he would leave so he brought them with him which exposed them to the reality of the worse of humanity and Zoe was even kidnapped when she was twelve.

Zarah Carina Noble-Valdez – Despite being total opposites, they had been close until they were kidnapped and put in different locations, to the point that they could sense each other's emotions and more importantly when something was wrong. However, Zoe had managed to escape and injure her captive while Zarah hadn't been seen in four years.

Zelena Lara Valdez — Zelena died while in labor with Zoe (Zarah had been born first on October 28, when an UnSub revealed to be acting as a nurse and Alexander was forced to take the newborn Zarah and flee while the UnSub kidnapped the still in-labor Zelena and by extension Zoe. Alexander found them three days later with Zelena near dead from an axe to the chest before she died in his arms, and they had to perform an emergency C-section on Zelena's corpse before Zoe died in the womb (within 24 to 36 hours).

Senior Special Agent Jason Gideon — Zoe has a fatherly/uncle-like relationship with Gideon as her parents helped open the BAU with him despite their younger age. She shows some traits she's picked up from him as the ability to remain calm in cases and under pressure and paying close attention (when her ADHD isn't acting up and distracting her) to her surrounding environment—visual or audible or otherwise though a lot of times she's not aware that she's noticed it. Like him she has difficulties letting go of the past and she cares deeply not only for her co-workers but for the victims of the cases she works but can seem insensitive at times. However, she isn't as soft-spoken as this more aptly described Zarah but Zoe can be seen as soft-spoken due to her mood swing-like personality. She isn't afraid to stand up for what she believes in, even when held at gunpoint. She also shows similarities as her only willing to share her true self to those she trusts with time and wanting to make a difference in the world by helping others. She also has a tendency to "teach" in situations, rather than do or explain though this could also be seen as another example of her rebelliousness and being closed off from others. Unlike Spencer, she has learned from Gideon on how to predict possible outcomes even in a simple chess game. However, her biggest difference from Gideon who sometimes worries about how the cases can affect him psychologically and emotionally, Zoe needs to be working on a case out of boredom and her guilt complex.

David Stephen Rossi (“Retired”🙄)— Zoe has a rather odd relationship with Rossi as opposed to her warm father/uncle type with Gideon. She has more of a sarcastic, banter relationship with Rossi that could be mistaken for contempt but Rossi sees Zoe as a daughter figure and Zoe even had a good relationship with all three of his ex-wives and she frequently makes fun that he's had three of them. They both grow restless if they're not solving possible. Zoe will mention that Rossi had grown bored of reading her and Zarah bedtime stories and talked about the cases to them which fascinated Zoe even at a young age. However, they clash in how they work, Rossi is quite by the book while Zoe would like to throw the book into a supernova because she disagrees with it and plays by her own rules. Rossi is more of a neat freak who color codes his notes while Zoe is messy and chaotic yet sees sense in her mess; she even messes with him with this. Rossi is more extroverted while Zoe keeps her emotions to her chest (however she wasn't always like that).

They are both very stubborn and more prone to brutal approaches than wasting time with being vauge. Zoe's intelligence surpasses Rossi while he is by no means dumb, this was clear by early as age three when she became better at crosswords than he was much to his irritation.

When you meet Rossi, it's clear that he is where Zoe had picked up her knack for pushing UnSub's buttons and her brutal undercutting their egos and her stabbing at their insecurities until they bleed. Despite Rossi being like a father to her, she is not unaware of his past negative traits, she knows his second wife's secret and cares very much for her. She is aware that it's not the right thing to do to never tell Rossi but knew Rossi's ambition in his early life would interfere and she didn't know if he would give it up.

Max Ryan (Retired) — Zoe isn't as close to Max Ryan as she is to Gideon or Rossi but they do have a bond due to her fascination with true crime.

Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner — She has a somewhat conflicted relationship with Hotch while they do get along and care and respect one another (not that she'd ever admit that) her tendency to rebel and disobey orders (though she usually does this because she genuinely believes it's for the greater good) doesn't match up with his dedication to duty and planning. However, Hotch does care deeply for Zoe, having known her since she was ten years old. She is possibly the only person who works almost as much as he does. Unlike him, she has a close relationship with her father but also knows her fair share of familial abuse which she would fight back or take for the good of others.

Derek Morgan — With him only being twelve years older than her, he has a kind of older brother relationship with her though neither would really care to admit this. They see a pain in one another that the other can relate to. They're both rather reckless and would give their lives to save others, though while Derek chooses flirtations and meaningless sex to cope with the pain of his past and what he does for a living, Zoe has shut down, her emotions hidden behind a wall even to her and fakes apathy, remaining usually antisocial and unimpressed with people flirting with her, traumatized by what was done to her in her childhood that she often feels that people who find her attractive only want something from her.

Doctor Spencer Reid — Zoe and Spencer get along really well as they are both very different from one another yet similar. Zoe is more of a pessimist than Spencer who prefers to be an optimist. They both have a darkness in their past that inspired them to pursue a job in the FBI, concerning mental health (Spencer's was his mother and Zoe's was her experiences from being a famous FBI agent's daughter). They both have a unique ability in this job and it's not their high intelligence but their uncanny ability to empathize with criminals and not see them as monsters but as people.

His intelligence is more for the traditional kind of way with books and reading while Zoe remembers things through either experiences or hearing. She's also more comfortable with technology than he is, implicitly being along the same skills as Penelope Garcia but she prefers doing field work.

They both take an empathetic approach with the UnSubs, trying to understand them better as humans rather than see them as monsters (though Zoe may occasionally do this). They're both open-minded, empathetic, deeply intelligent, and compassionate. 

Penelope Garcia — Zoe was indifferent to Garcia at first due to Garcia's vibrant, bubbly, outgoing personality, likely because it reminded Zoe of Zarah. But she does begin to care about her and warm up to her. However, it can be interpretative that she has some respect for her as Zoe never boasted about her own hacking skills which actually surpassed Garcia's, though she preferred to be in the field.

Jennifer "JJ" Jareau — Zoe is close to JJ as she is the closest woman to her age and they have a few things in common with their experience of a tragedy with a sister despite this they're both caring and look out for others around them and if it came down to helping a friend, they would both shoot someone in the head and not even blink.

Non-BAU Relationships:

Joy Montgomery — Zoe was only a year old when Hayden found out she was pregnant and told Alex and accidentally Zoe (who despite being one had the cognitive understanding of an eight year old) so Zoe is well aware of Joy’s existence and never told Rossi. Joy is like a litter sister to Zoe.

J.D. — J.D. is Zoe’s ex-boyfriend who she met in Paris when she was sixteen; he is a genius like her. He has a lot of qualities that happen to be like Spencer’s but this is irrelevant. J.D. likes to read, he’s a genius with an IQ of 185, he had a parent with a major disorder but there are also a lot of things that are different from Spencer, like he is a criminal and is locked up in a classified high-max prison. Zoe however doesn’t see him as a monster as most would with what he did, she still cares about him and they have a unique bond.

Emily Prentiss — Zoe knew Emily through her father as personal favorite agent of her mother's, Elizabeth Prentiss, American Ambassador, Zoe was six while Emily was twenty-one and in college. Zoe and Zarah impressed Emily with their intelligence, Zoe, particularly due to her exceptional memory and her ability to understand Emily's college-level courses, especially in Criminal Justice and Criminology as she showed to have a passion for it, though was also talented in science yet oddly struggled with math (as she claimed they hurt her head and she'd rather be tortured). Zoe worked with Emily sometimes while she was in Europe with her Aunt Maze while getting experience to be able to apply to BAU and Zoe is aware of Emily’s mission but has never told anyone.

Valdez Family — While she is a bit embarrassed by them due to their overprotectiveness and paranoia due to what happened to Zelena and Zoe’s former heart condition and most of them being involved with some form of law enforcement. She does love them deeply and maintains the Valdez family beliefs of never needing a man; being strong, wise, brave, and tricky; being fierce and unwilling to let any man break them; being a warrior; a woman (most Valdezes were women despite what geneticists say) who can strike fear in people (usually men) by just their smile; Refusing to let someone else fight for them and pick up the sword themselves; to be a force to be reckoned with. But she doesn’t really like for her friends to meet them due to their tendency for mostly unprovoked violence.

Inspirations: Alex Russo (Wizards on Waverly Place); Mabel Mora (Only Murders in the Building); Sherlock Holmes (BBC Sherlock), The Tenth Doctor, Buzzfeed Unsolved boys (The dynamic Shane Madej and Ryan Bergara—the team needs someone to make some sarcastic/sardonic humor in the darkness of this show), Chloe Decker (Lucifer), Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn 99), Amy Santiago (Brooklyn 99), Mazikeen/Maze (Lucifer)

Etymology:

Xiomara — Spanish — Battle Ready; Battle Famous, Horse Worthy, Most Beautiful Star in the Universe; Inner Beauty

Alexandra — Latin — Man's Defender, Defender of Man; Defender of People; Defender of Mankind; Man's Protector; Protector of Man; Protector of People; Protector of Mankind

Zoe — Greek — Life

Notes: Zoe and Zarah are not true identical twins, she and Zarah are mostly identical but if one were to do a thorough examination and know what they were looking for, they would find some minor differences between Zoe and Zarah. Zarah is slightly taller than Zoe with straighter hair while Zoe has more wavy/curly hair. Zarah is slightly tanner than Zoe while Zoe is more pale. Zarah has brown eyes while Zoe has an amberish hue to them.

Zoe and Zarah are technically “Irish Twins”, meaning they were born on separate days.

Zoe's IQ is while unmeasured (since the age of twelve, albeit unofficially and taken by force and again at sixteen) is higher than Zarah's who is estimated around 160 to 190.

Zoe had extended periods of her life where she has no memory of or have rewritten the memory of in her head, even with time blocking out her realization that she has missing time.

I’m not a genius on Bipolar because I don’t have it. My mom thought I had it when I was younger and I was tested and somehow we ended up at dyslexia which no one did anything about and I can only speculate what kind(s) it is. Anyway, Zoe might be all over the Bipolar chart or may not seem to have it, but I feel this could be realistic given the life that you’ll learn about and this may be explained that the doctors can’t give an accurate diagnosis of what specific Bipolar she has. But her cyclothymia is somewhat stable though she tends to have symptoms of the “psychotic” level of the highs and lows, such as suicidal behavior from either depression or “mania” or hallucinations or delusions, though these are under control and take for as either guides to guide her through her life if taken the form of someone she likes or as warning if in the form of an enemy.)

I’ve also considered disorders on the Schizophrenia spectrum, as I said, the true diagnosis is foggy due to her missing time, memories, refusal to share her thoughts or trauma, and the exact trauma inflicted upon her but I’ve been looking up some disorders that could explain her hallucinations. Schizoaffective is what I’m currently leaning for (it’s kind of like a combination of Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder), as stated above, PTSD or more likely, due to the continuous trauma, C-PTSD (complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). I’ve settled on a combination of ADHD, PTSD, Cyclothymia and Borderline Personality Disorder

Zelena being attacked by an axe-murderer while pregnant with Zoe is inspired by New Orleans Axeman victim, known as Mrs. Ed Schneider who was allegedly attacked by the Axeman and she successfully gave birth but this baby's identity is unknown (One Reddit user claims the identity is Clara Schneider)

*I changed "PTSD" to "C-PTSD" because PTSD is more towards singular event and Zoe has so much more truama.*

If there are any inconsitencies or incomplete sentences as this was a work in progress for a year, please let me know.

*Edited October 1, 2024)

[sifu-kisu]

Parts of a Chinese Sword: The Jian and Dao Anatomy

Chinese swords are very beautiful and dangerous weapons that have played an important role in Chinese history and culture for thousands of years. Their intricate design and construction are a testament to centuries of Chinese swordmaking tradition.

One must be familiar with the complex workings of Chinese swords to fully appreciate their lethality and beauty and use them more effectively in Wushu or Kung Fu Chinese martial arts. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the various components of the Dao or Jian, the traditional Chinese swords, and their use.

Parts of the Jian / Straigh Double Edge

The Parts of a Jian Sword – Credits: Mandarin Mansion Antiques

The Jian is a type of ancient Chinese straight, double-edged sword that has been valued for over a thousand years. Its blade is long and narrow, while the handle is straight and slim. Soldiers, martial artists, and academics employed the sword in ancient China and surrounding regions. Together with the staff, spear, and Dao swords, it is one of the four key weapons in Chinese martial arts.

1. Jiantan – Pommel

The Chinese word for the pommel of a Jian sword is Jiantan, and it is there that the sword begins. It’s a metal weight at the end of the handle, and its purpose is to balance the blade so the user can have a firm hold. First only available in ring pommels, Jian pommels eventually evolved into more complex designs like the metal cap, ball, or teardrop shapes and the common disk pommel known today.

2. Jian Sui – Tassel

A Jian sword’s tassel is a decorative accessory that can be fastened to the pommel or scabbard. The Chinese sword tassel is often constructed from silk. This sheath beautifies the Jian and adds a few features that may or may not improve the sword’s effectiveness in battle.

3. Jianba – Handle

The different possible edge features on the Jian sword – Credits: Sword Buyers Guide

The Jianba is the sword’s handle, and it is always straight and slim, measuring somewhere between 6 and 10 inches (15 and 25 cm) in length. For ceremonial and combat purposes, it may be crafted from various materials, including bone, wood, horn, and even jade. The majority of Jianbas have a shorter handle designed for use with one hand, although there are also longer versions used with both.

4. Jian Ge – Guard

Traditional Jian sword guards are thin, tapered pieces of metal that can be angled in either direction relative to the blade and handle. In some cases, it can be round or square that goes between the blade and the handle. Its purpose is to shield the user’s hand from the oncoming blade and to stop the enemy’s weapon from sliding down the blade onto the hand. In some cases, it only serves as a beautiful ornamental piece.

5. Shaungxue – Hamon

A hamon is the visible line on the Jian sword that is sometimes on the blade but not always. It is a result of the differential hardening used throughout history to make the edges of the blade sharper by using clay. It is a feature most known today on the Japanese Katana.

6. Jianti – Blade

The blade of a Jian sword is narrow and long, normally measuring 23 to 31 inches (60 to 80 cm) but reaching as high as 47 inches (1.2 meters), and always tapers into a sharp blade tip. It is the only straight Chinese sword, one of just a few in the arsenal of Chinese swords, with no curving variant. The blade is forged from bronze, then iron, and finally, high-quality steel, and it is optimized for speed and accuracy when cutting.

7. Jian Ren – Edge

The straight Jian scabbard –

The sharp edges on both sides of the Jian’s blade are called Jian Ren. This Jian Ren has three sections and parts, mostly seen in the combat or martial arts type of Jian sword.

Top – razor sharp and used primarily for hacking, slashing, thrusting, but not blocking

Middle – semi-sharpened part of the blade but much thicker, which is used for slashing and blocking

Bottom – very thick, sturdy, and usually unsharpened for defensive or unorthodox offensive movements

8. Jian Jian – Blade Tip

The very point of the Jian sword is called Jian Jian. It is sharpened on both sides and made to be deadly when used for thrusting and piercing, but it can also be used for slashing.

9. Jianqiao – Scabbard

When not in use, a Jian sword is stored safely in its scabbard, called the Jianqiao. It’s usually crafted from wood and covered in luxurious materials like silk or leather. Metal fittings and tassels are two examples of possible embellishments for the scabbard.

Parts of the Dao Sword (Knife/ Saber)

The Parts of a Dao Sword – Credits: Mandarin Mansion Antiques

The Dao sword, often called the Chinese broadsword, is a renowned blade that has served Chinese warriors for millennia. Its defining feature is a single-edged blade, which can be straight or slightly curved and may be gripped in one or both hands thanks to the long, slim grip. The Dao sword has a long history of use in numerous Chinese martial arts traditions, but it was primarily a sword of the soldier thanks to its ease of use and simpler design.

1. Daoba Dingshu – Pommel

Usually, the Dao sword has a smaller metal cap of a pommel which can be ring type, as seen in the 20th-century use of the Dadao. However, the most common type is a round or wider disc shape. It serves as a back support to the user’s hand as well as a possible blunt attack tool.

2. Lanyard and Tassel

Like the Jian has the traditional Chinese tassel, so does the Dao. But most of the time, the Dao swords have a lanyard, which is meant to have a better grip on the sword and make this curved blade more effective in mounted attacks.

3. Daoba – Handle

The handle of the Dao, which can be as small as a person’s hand or the size of the blade itself, is called the Daoba. Its most common length is 8 to 13 inches (20 to 35 cm), and it can be used with one or two hands for powerful slashing attacks.

4. Daoba Shu – Ferrule

The small metal piece just under and between the guard and the handle is called the Daoba Shu. These are often circular metal rings made for extra joining and fastening of the handle and sealing and reinforcing the wrapping material.

5. Dao Hushou – Guard

The metal piece that protects the user’s hand between the blade and the handle is the Dao Hushou. The most common type of guard seen on a Dao sword is round or disc-shaped. It offers protection to the user’s hand but is fairly limited. It makes for an excellent marching or cavalry type of guard. However, It is also featured in the parts of a Katana known as tsuba.

6. Dao Cao – Groove

The early types of Dao Ren on the straight Dao swords, which curved with time – Credits: The Scholar General

The Dao Cao translates to saber groove and can be found in almost all types of Chinese Dao. They are sometimes referred to as blood grooves, but their real purpose is to lessen the weight of the blade so that it can increase the saber’s handling and speed. In addition, they make eye-pleasing aesthetics.

7. Dao Ren – Blade (Edge)

The sharpened side of the Dao swords, which makes them single-edged, is called the Dao Ren, which sets it apart from the Jian. This edge makes for an effective slashing tool that benefited from the curve added onto the later Dao types of swords. Thanks to the Dao Ren, these blades were easier to master and cheaper to produce, but still very effective in combat and became the main type of military sword for Chinese soldiers.

8. Dao Bei – Spine

The sturdy part of the Dao sword, which can hold off the flexibility of the edge, is called Dao Bei. This isn’t a sharpened part and can be either straight or curved based on the type of sword and can be used for defensive purposes too. Sometimes the blade can be made broader and wider, and there are instances of a spike on some Dao Beis.

9. Blade Rings

There are some cases of Chinese swords with rings placed on the Dao Bei or the blade’s spine. They are mostly for entertainment and ornamental reasons, but some say they are also beneficial in combat.

10. Tunkou – Blade Collar

An unsharpened piece of metal, usually on top of the guard of Dao swords, is called a Tunkou, which is a blade collar. This is placed for decorative purposes, mostly with traditional Chinese elements, but it also holds the blade tightly inside the scabbard, keeping it safe from the elements. 

11. Dao Feng – Blade Tip

The very end of the blade is called the Dao Feng, the blade’s sharpened tip. There are cases where only one side is sharpened, but on some Dao swords, the tip is double-edged, making it ideal for both slashing and thrusting.

12. Daoqiao – Scabbard

The P-shape curved scabbard of the Dao sword – Credits: Mandarin Mansion Antiques

The Daoqiao, or the scabbard for the Dao blade, has the same features and materials as the Jian, except that it is curved.  It protects the blade from outside elements and is a nice resting piece for carrying the Dao around.

13. Dao Shu Liang – Scabbard Suspension

The Dao Shu Liang is how the scabbard is different from the Jian. This tradition came from Persian influence on the west during the Tang Dynasty and is basically two ropes swinging from the blade that hold the swords in a horizontal fashion

[backgroundgoblin-blog]

Headcanon Freedom fighters (or basically how I would like to group characters together in teams to fight Eggman):

Knothole FF: One of the first to start their revolt against the mad Doctor. They live in the forest of the Knothole Village, under the leadership of Princess Sally Acorn.

Angel Island Guardians: Originally just starting with Knuckles, the group slowly grew as the timeline went on. Now becoming one of the largest of the FF, all of them have a close relationship with the Rad Red.

The Spiral Hill Restoration: Forming much later than the others, this group has ties to the Restoration, making it the most resourceful of them. Still new and inexperienced, the group has Lanolin the Sheep, a young leader that's still getting the hang of keeping things together.

Shijin Warriors: Hailing all the way from the east, these shaolin warriors where formed thanks to Monkey Kahn. They protect the land of Kar Leung and the Shijin Shrine, often being moderators to the neighboring clans.

Spagonai Fighters: A group residing on the outskirts Spagonia, operating on the old ruins of the mad doctor. They are well versed with the doctors' tricks and doodats. Johnny lightfoot acts as the leader of this rag tag group.

Woodland Kingsmen: From the woods of Merica, lead by Bow Sparrow, they seek to dethrone the current king and establish a new monarchy. They mostly rely on old forms of weaponry and rarely use modern technology.

Desert Raiders: The smallest of the groups, living off the dessert, they are often fighting at odds through tick and thin. Lead by Spike the Porcupine, they seem to idealize Sonic and co.

Arctic Fighters: From the cold of the northern tundra. Lead by Guntiver the Arctic Wolf, these fighters fight the cold just as hard as they fight for freedom.

Others that I group together, but don't have a stationary place:

Forget me Knots: A world traveling band, lead by the famous Mina Mongoose. Their songs are the inspiring melodies that keep the world safe from tyranny.

Chaotix: The three man group of detectives, lead by the man himself, Vector the Crocodile. These misfits can solve any case, for the right price. But when trouble seems too unjust, they are willing to give their support, on the house.

also all of the art here is not mine, art used are from: JoeAdok, Drawloverlala, liris-san, SomeJoJoGuy, and the castle I can't remember.

[kate66s]

Pick two of your characters. If they were in Avatar, what kind of bender would they be and what fighting style would they have?

Oooh OK, I'll do you one better I'll give you one or two characters for each bending type based on personality and fighting style.

Fire Benders would have to be Kate and Lil Red, Kate's fighting style is similar to Northern Shaolin fighting. Red on the other hand has alot of connections to fire, her parter is a fire type, her emotions and strength can get put of control like a wild fire and she as a burning undying passion.

Earth Benders I would have to say Elena and Dena. Elena is extremely stable and is kinda like Toph when it comes to chill personality and the occasion sass. Dena though likes to get solid punches on people if she is fighting, not faltering from attacks and hitting tens times harder than her opponents.

Water bending, that would be Stephan and Esther. Esther got real Kitara energy, she's calm and soothing like gentle waves. Stephan though embodies the rapid stricks and precision Tai Chi is known for sense he use to be a hunter.

Air Benders is very easy, that's Riley and Dazy. Energetic balls of joy that can't stop moving, though one is more able to kill a person than another but both practically never would hurt a soul under normal conditions. If they had to defend themselves they're just gonna disable their opponent and not kill them.

[froppy-butterflyfan2000]

Pick two of your characters. If they were in Avatar, what kind of bender would they be and what fighting style would they have?

I can see Janaya more of in-between a fire bender and a water bender. His father’s spell, the Kill Ball and I saw some SVTFOE Next Gen Content Creators whose give Janna the ability to use magic, have her use a fire magic attribute. So I am going with him being a fire bender. His fightning style would be a mixture of Tai Chi, Eschrima/Kali, and Northern Shaolin. The Tai Chi aspect on firebending is inspired by Zuko using Tai Chi in his fightning style when bending fire, when he joins Aang, Katara, Toph, Sokka, Appa, and Momo.

Fengge would be a wind bender and his fightning style would be Baguazhang. Since he was bless with wind manipulation by Ring Ring, it make sense for him to be a wind bender.

[mah-o-daryaa]

Beautiful.

Here's an animated TikTok video of each of the four bending arts in ATLA, by Jared Koh (not the one who steals faces):

Earthbending: Hung Gar Kung Fu

Firebending: Northern Shaolin Kung Fu

Airbending: Baguazhang

Waterbending: Tai Chi

Which element would you like to master, if you had the chance?

In PJO, out of the Seven, Hazel would be an earthbender (specifically metalbender), Leo would be a firebender (with a similar view on firebending to Jeong Jeong), Jason would be an airbender who could fly, and Percy would be a waterbender (for obvious reasons).