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Sifu Yuri Morelli
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Sifu Yuri
Morelli
Worldwide renowned teacher and lineage holder; Researcher: Internal Martial Arts and Biomechanics. One of the most knowledgeable experts on the integrated 'Sibling Arts' of Wing Chun and Weng Chun alive today.
The Dual Dragon of the Apennines
Founder of the Traditional Wing Chun Association (TWA), Sifu Yuri Morelli is a dedicated Wing Chun researcher and instructor known for his commitment to traditional transmission and cross-lineage study. His work bridges classical Wing Chun families with internal martial arts, guided by the belief that true completeness emerges only through continuous research and comparison of authentic sources.
His journey is defined by a transition from modern combat sports to classical mastery. Beginning his training in the 1980s, Sifu Morelli started with the high-impact world of Kickboxing at age 13, where he developed a "reality filter" for combat effectiveness. In his late teens, he transitioned to Kung Fu, moving from an attribute-based system to one based on biomechanical efficiency and internal structure. Today, he is recognized for his "deliberate, decades-long research project into the biomechanics of violence and the philosophy of peace
Multiple Lineages
40+ Years Research
We are not inventors; we are archaeologists of the body. My duty is not to modernize the art for comfort, but to remove the dust of recent decades so that the original, devastating efficiency of the 1700s can shine again
A Lifetime of Mastery
Numbers tell only part of the story, but they reveal the magnitude of dedication required to achieve true mastery across multiple authentic lineages.
40
+
YEARS OF DEDICATION
Sifu Morelli’s evolution spans four decades, bridging the gap between his 1980s combat sports roots and the internal depths of traditional Kung Fu.
13
THE AGE OF INCEPTION
Beginning his journey in Kickboxing at just 13 years old, he forged a "reality filter" for combat effectiveness long before entering the internal gates of Weng Chun.
TWA
National Association — Founding the Traditional Wing Chun Association (TWA) to preserve the lineage in Italy
77
GLOBAL RECOGNITION
Featured on the cover of Wing Chun Illustrated (Issue 77), placing him in the upper echelon of the international community alongside the art's greatest legends.
The Pilgrimage
Sifu Yuri Morelli’s journey is not merely a collection of certificates; it is a deliberate, decades-long research project into the biomechanics of violence and the philosophy of peace. Spanning nearly forty years, his evolution from a teenage kickboxer to a recognized lineage holder represents a rare bridge between modern combat reality and ancient internal cultivation.
(1990-2000)
The Kickboxing Era
The biographical record establishes that Yuri Morelli was born in Viareggio, Italy, on July 25, 1977. His martial genesis occurred at the age of 13, heavily influenced by his father, a former boxer and kickboxing coach. This period is critical for the "Origin" phase of the profile. Unlike many Kung Fu practitioners who start with forms, Morelli started with fighting. The research indicates he spent his youth on "soccer fields" before transitioning to the ring. This background in Western Kickboxing provided a foundational understanding of timing, distance, and contact—elements that he would later seek to refine through the lens of Chinese biomechanics.
(2000-2012)
The Wing Chun Period: The First Lineage
In his late teens (approx. 1996-2000), Morelli transitioned to Chinese Martial Arts, specifically the Wing Tsun system. The research identifies his trajectory through the WTOI (World Wing Tsun Organization Italia) and later the FioreRosso association.
2012
The "Research" Phase: Detachment and The Tang Family
The "Pivot" in Morelli’s narrative—essential for the Institute’s profile structure—occurred around 2012. Dissatisfied with the limitations of his previous training or seeking deeper understanding, he left the major associations to become an independent researcher.
- The Weng Chun Connection: In 2014, Morelli became, the direct heir of the Tang family Weng Chun. This solidified his status as a practitioner of "Sibling Arts"—holding lineages in both the popular Ip Man style and the rare Tang Yik style.
2014 - Present
Professional Status and The Eternal Spring Connection
Currently, Sifu Morelli heads the Traditional Wing Chun Association (Italy). However, his profile must reflect his collaboration with the Eternal Spring Institute. He is cited as a featured instructor for "1700s Internal Wing Chun" seminars alongside Sifu Sergio Iadarola. He is part of the core team along with Sifu Kleber Battaglia that presents the "Internal" curriculum around the globe.
The Masters’ Circle
Sifu Yuri’s journey brought him into contact with some of the most respected masters in Wing Chun and Weng Chun history, each contributing to his profound understanding and skills of these Sibling Arts.
The Lineages of Mastery
Wing Chun Lineages Studied:
- Leung Ting Wing Tsun System(completed)
- Tang Family Weng Chun (Eternal Spring)
- Snake crane Wing Chun
Ancestor Systems:
- Fujian Yong Chun Bai He (White Crane)
- Emei Zhe Zhuang (12 Postures)
- Internal cultivation methods
- Secret society teachings
- Original Kuen Kuit (1800s & 1890s)
The Master's Philosophy
One of Sifu Yuri’s most significant contributions is the restoration of the "Sibling Arts" connection—realizing that the original internal engine of Wing Chun cannot be fully understood without its ancestor, Weng Chun.
Beyond the External
Through decades of comparative research and direct transmission from the Tang Family, he has become a key architect in preserving the "1700s Internal Wing Chun" curriculum.
His teachings extend far beyond external choreography, utilizing the Luk Dim Poon Kwan (Six-and-a-Half Point Pole) not just as a weapon, but as the primary tool to forge genuine internal power and structural integrity. Sifu Yuri emphasizes that the "heavy" body structure and spinal connection are what distinguish a master from a mere practitioner.
"Most people practice the forms as a sequence of movements. I use the forms to reconstruct the internal vessel, bringing out the ancient biomechanics that were stripped away in modern times—the internal cultivation that transforms the fighter at the deepest level is crucial."
Most people practice the forms as a sequence of movements. I use the forms to reconstruct the internal vessel, bringing out the ancient biomechanics that were stripped away in modern times—the internal cultivation that transforms the fighter at the deepest level is crucial
Learn from a Living Master
Now is your opportunity to study with one of the most knowledgeable Wing Chun masters alive today. Whether online or in person at our Madeira sanctuary, Sifu Yuri’s teachings will transform your practice.