Biography
Ivan Forlani was born on February 17, 1993, in Trieste, Italy. At the age of three, his parents introduced him to roller skating, a sport he pursued until he was ten. This marked his first experience with athletics. Afterward, Ivan explored a variety of other sports, including football, basketball, swimming, skiing, and kayaking, all near his hometown. At 15, Ivan discovered martial arts and began training at a local gym. He quickly developed a deep passion for the discipline. He started with Muay Thai, the national sport of Thailand, and soon after began practicing Sanda (formerly known as Sanshou), a full-contact combat sport from China, also known as Chinese kickboxing. During this period, Ivan also trained in Parkour, a discipline focused on navigating obstacles with speed and efficiency. His dedication to martial arts paid off when he competed in the 4th Chan Wu National Competition in Italy, where he earned first place. He also secured second place at the International Kung Fu Games (FIWuK). By 2010, Ivan had achieved his black belt in Sanda. Although he briefly trained in MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), his primary focus remained on martial arts and physical challenges. In August 2014, Ivan moved to Austria, where he continued his MMA and BJJ training. In 2017, he competed in Ninja Warrior Austria, making it to the final stage but unfortunately was unable to conquer the last few obstacles. Despite this setback, he finished in the top 20. The Ninja Warrior experience prompted a life-changing decision: Ivan transitioned into stunt work. In 2018, he began training with Hollywood stunt performer Joe Toedtling, specializing in fire stunts such as "body burning." Seeking further stunt experience and to upgrade his skill set, Ivan traveled to Copenhagen to attend the ESS Stunt School, where he refined his expertise in a wide range of stunt disciplines, including aerial work, car stunts, and more. To this day, Ivan has worked on major Hollywood movie sets, including The Matrix Resurrections, 6 Underground, Strike Back, Hounds of War, and many others. His roles have included Stuntman, Stunt Double, Fight Choreographer, and Stunt Coordinator. In 2022, Ivan worked as an Action Camera Operator for the upcoming movie Black Creek, starring Cynthia Rothrock. He also served as Assistant Fight Choreographer for the 2nd Unit Director and Hollywood martial arts legend Mike Möller.
