well after rewatching the fight between them, katars WAS actually caught off guard. she had just turned around when zuko unleashed (what looked like) a fireball that took a great amount of effort. Katara had only the amount of time to put up a weak water shield which wasn't enough for the fireball. then she got knocked out.

also, we need to consider that both characters have gotten better at bending, though I would say Katara improved more since Zuko couldn't use it for a period of time or he would be caught

I think that they are equally matched, but the enviroment boosts one of them (water, moon/sun, familiar enviroments).

Zuko would have owned the little girl had he improved upon his techniques. It seems firebenders only have the thrust of fire, no real use of control in battle. Anyway, Zuko is definitely more powerful.

The way I think of this is there are two kind of benders: novice and masters. Of the 4, a firebending novice is the most dangerous because a firebender is all offence. She doesn't gain much more as she continues to master the element. Firebending is a basic program of extending one's form through flares. Through Firebending, you can only be a weapon. However of the masters, a Waterbending Master is the most dangerous adversary because not only is she a weapon and in control of the water surrounding her - but her opponent is also her weapon. Living organisms are mostly water. Much as Magneto could control his prison guard in X2, a Waterbending Master could completely dominate her foe. If one is immobilzed, they cannot Bend.

The tree has nothing to do with the battle. Neither does the snow. It's just about the advantages of each form and how powerful Katara is at her level. Zuko will always be a tough fighter, fueled by passion and determination, but Katara will eventually be so powerful a Bender, she won't need water.

Katara is by no means a master! She's just good enough to train Aang. The ability to use the water in someone's body against them is a canon idea suggested by the creators (I wish I had the source for that). General Fong is no master either, but he has more fighting experience than Katara. You can't evaluate all Benders of the two elements by those examples. You can only compare Bumi and Pakku - neither of whom have shown what they're fully capable of.

when zuko learns electricty bending katara won't stand a chance, she shouldn't stand a chance against azula either, if she does that bs, i'm going to fight your eletricty with my water, if she doesn't get eletricuted if they fight or when i'll be pissed

KATARA DUZ NOT STAND A CHANCE AGANST ZUKO SHES JUST A STUPID LITTLE GIRL HA HA HA IM THE COOLEST HEE HEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think Zuko would own Katara in a fight. (Big surprise, huh? )

katara needs her mama

Zuko will never learn lightning. He may use it with a few lucky flukes, but Zuko does not have the discipline and control necessary to control the cold blooded fire. Zuko is all passion, which is in fact the opposite of cold-blooded. Zuko is probably the least skilled firebender in the world, but only has figured it out by contant drilling and forcing himself to get it right. This isn't mastering the Futae No Kimemae, you can't get it by doggedness alone. Azula is one of a select few who can master lightning. If Zuko can do it at the drop of a hat, it would cheapen it in everyone's eyes.

Zuko is a failure at everything. He's average at Firebending at best. Zuko's real skills are relentlessness, resourcefulness (see The Blue Spirit) and his purely martial skills (Blue Spirit, Zuko Alone, City of Walls and Secrets). He's a great fighter, but hardly talentled.

Iroh himself called lightning "The Cold Blooded Fire" (Bitter Work, 2x09) Iroh is not an unemotional person, like Azula, but he is in perfect control of his feelings. Look at how composed he was in 1x20, Siege of the Southern Water Tribe, Part 2. He was angry, but reasonable and exact in his wrath. Iroh can be as pleasant a man as he wishes to be or as fierce as he needs. Zuko doesn't have that control by a long shot.

Cold blooded is a DIRECT QUOTE. Which means it isn't my words, it's canon. You can't argue with what the script has expressedly stated.

And I'm not saying Zuko isn't a talented fighter. He's an untalented Bender. With everything short of the mystical, Zuko shines. But in the Magical/Bendy world of Avatar where everyone worth a square-punched copper needs to know how to make the elements dance, Zuko is hardly a blip. But that's what makes him an awesome character. He's nothing, yet still moves onward.