SUL SA DO
Self-defence Martial Arts were in Korea in 50 BC yet
Ancient Korea was divided in three reigns: Silla, Koguryo and Baekche
The main martial art was TAEK KYON of Koguryo reign
Silla was the littlest reign and it was under the attack of japanese pirates coming from the sea
Silla reign asked for the help of Koguryo reign and Koguryo dinasty sent 50.000 soldiers in order to help the little reign of Silla against japanese pirates
In this period Koguryo soldiers taught to some selected Silla's warriors their martial art: TAEK KYON
These Silla warriors were better known as HWA-RANG. Initially founded as a military academy just for young nobles of Silla, HWA-RANG will adopt TAEK KYON as base discipline
A HWA-RANG had to be a virtuous man; they were educated in many disciplines: history, Confucio, philosophy, ethic, Buddha morality, horse-riding, bow training, sword tecniques, military tactics and TAEK KYON
The main 5 HWA-RANG qualities were:
Silla reign selected the best HWA-RANG warriors to train them in special secret tecniques: espionage, fighting with weapons, mimetic art, infiltration art, climbing, moving in quiet, meditation, survival and fighting group strategies. These warriors were called SUL-SA (Night Warriors)
Silla conquered Koguryo and Baekche reigns thanks to special training and strong state of mind of HWA-RANG and for SUL-SA missions too. Silla dinasty ruled the entire Korea from 668 AD to 935 AD
Thanks to these warriors education and Martial Arts were taught in entire Korea
In that period, since Korea had been unified, there was no need of special SUL-SA missions, so martial arts were just a way to encrease physical performance
Some SUL-SA warriors went to Japan to live in little villages; there they will teach and form NINJA groups in order to defeat some japanese warriors called SAMURAI
The main difference between japanese Ninjutsu and SUL SA DO is that japanese Ninja were killers working against the japanese government
Whilst Korean SUL SA DO warriors were a special military corp of Silla's government and were taught not to kill unjustly