The Kyoshi Warriors were an elite group of female nonbender combatants. This group was created by Avatar Kyoshi several hundred years before the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Avatar: Macai's Journey.
History
The Kyoshi Warriors were initially created to protect Kyoshi Island, which was Avatar Kyoshi's homeland. Suki eventually convinced other active Kyoshi Warriors to not limit their efforts to their birth island but to also protect other territories throughout the earth.
Training
The Kyoshi Warriors endured intense and lengthy training. Candidates could start preparing from childhood, but new recruits could also be taken in from interested Kyoshi Warriors. The group must unanimously agree to take in any new member.
Suki and other Kyoshi Warriors
Skills
Kyoshi warriors are trained in dueling with swords, spears, and shields. However, the trademark weapon of the Kyoshi Warriors are their assault fans. Assault fans can have blades attached. A slash from the fans are just thick enough to cut the skin but may not easily kill someone unless that person is hit in a vital area such as the neck or is struck with great force. A lighter hit from the fan cuts just deep enough so a toxin within the fans puts that individual to sleep, allowing them to be captured.
The Kyoshi warriors after Ty Lee joined
Ty Lee
Although a past member of the team, Ty Lee later became an invaluable asset to the Kyoshi Warriors. Because of her past service in the Fire Nation, she understood the tactics, methods, and style of the Fire Nation Remnant/Ozai Restoration forces better than the other members. Ty Lee also taught the squad the art of chi-blocking which allowed them to remove a bender's ability to influence, control, or generate elements. From that moment, generations of Kyoshi Warriors also had this ability.
Leader/Captain
The leader or captain of the Kyoshi Warriors is selected by the current Kyoshi leader before they retire. The leader is expected to discuss with other members (sisters) of the group before deciding. The captain is not viewed as being more important than other members of the team but instead is seen as an equally important individual who has a special set of responsibilities. Because of these responsibilities, the leader is also given a bit more respect.
The responsibilities include delegation authority, increased public speaking roles, and officially speaking on behalf of the team. Suki was the leader of Kyoshi Warriors during the late Hundred Year War; Ty Lee was later made second-in-command as a first-class lieutenant under her.