Avatar: The Last Airbender creators’ decision to incorporate martial arts styles led them to this former celebrity bodyguard.

Even after years since the last season aired, Avatar: The Last Airbender is considered one of the best-animated series to date. Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the series premiered on Nickelodeon in February 2005 and was aired for three seasons until July 2008.

A still from Avatar: The Last Airbender episode The King of Omashu
While numerous fascinating elements are used in the show, one of the most prominent is the different martial arts styles the creators chose to use. The creators once revealed how a former celebrity bodyguard helped determine all four martial arts that they incorporated into the show.

The Former Celebrity Bodyguard Who Inspired the 4 Martial Artists

A still from Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender
Primarily influenced by Chinese culture, the series follows the story of a 12-year-old boy named Aang the Avatar, responsible for maintaining harmony in the world, can manipulate and control all four nature elements in a world that is divided into four nations with each of these nations named after a nature element.

Certain individual of these nations can control the element of their corresponding nation. These individuals were called ‘benders’ and their art of manipulating the elements is called ‘bending’. Every ‘bender’ uses a different martial arts style.

In an interview with IGN, creator Bryan Konietzko revealed how his search for a martial arts consultant led him to the former celebrity bodyguard Sifu Kisu. He said:

“My search led me to Sifu Kisu and I began training with him right away. He has been a valuable part of the project ever since.”

According to Avatar Wiki, Sifu Kisu began learning martial arts at an early age. Following his return from the army, he worked Executive Protection Specialist for many celebrities and VIPs. He learned several different martial arts styles such as karate, jujitsu, taekwondo, and Northern Shaolin style.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Creators on Why They Chose to Use Martial Arts

A still from Avatar: The Last Airbender
In the same IGN interview, Bryan Konietzko said they were interested in the “Legends and Lore” but did not want to be in the same vein as the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises. They want to be different from the other franchises, but still have the “magic”.

This “magic” turned out to be the 4 different martial arts styles that the creators used in the show at the suggestion of Sifu Kisu. Konietzko explained why they chose martial arts, saying:

“For us, it had to be natural and physical, with a source and rules and limitations – and most importantly it had to be a skill rather than just a power, something that a practitioner had to learn and strive for.”

Thankfully, their vision for the show worked out the way they had hoped. Not only did the show turn out to be a major hit with the fans but also spawned an entire franchise.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is available for streaming on Netflix.