You may be intimately familiar with Mixed Martial Arts (MMA),
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), and Catch Wrestling, but the history of submission
grappling is incomplete without acknowledging Luta Livre. A formidable Brazilian submission grappling art, Luta
Livre is fundamentally what the modern combat world recognizes as No-Gi BJJ.
More importantly, it features Vale Tudo—the raw, unregulated precursor to
modern MMA—as a core component. Luta Livre is an essential pillar in the
evolution of modern MMA and practical self-defense. In a nation of over a
billion people, finding a master of this rare art is remarkable. India found
its first Luta Livre black belt in a man whose life is as multifaceted as the
martial arts he practices: Samuel
Lalrozama.
Samuel Lalrozama Hmar, affectionately known as Sammy, from
Dawrpui, Aizawl, Mizoram is not just a martial artist. He is a prominent
sportsman, aviator, writer, and social activist from the Mizo community in
Mizoram, India. His journey is a testament to relentless dedication, bridging
the high-octane worlds of international combat sports, aerospace engineering,
literature, and social service.
A Titan of Combat Sports
Samuel’s foundational background is rooted in Muay Thai and Muay Boran. As a former
international athlete, he competed in Thailand on two occasions and trained
under legendary grandmasters, including GM
Woody and GM Toddy. He spent
months undergoing rigorous training and certification at the renowned Physical
Education Centre of Bangkok University and the IFMA/WMC Training Centre.
Consequently, he is recognized as an international referee by IFMA and a
certified Kru (teacher) under the auspices of Thailand's Culture and Education
departments. Beyond Muay Thai, Samuel is a certified black belt and instructor
in numerous traditional martial arts—including Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do, Karate,
Jujutsu, Kickboxing, Hapkido, Haedong Kumdo, Kung Fu, and Ninjutsu.
However, his drive to become a complete martial artist and his
vision to nurture local athletes into professional fighters led him to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Becoming one
of India's MMA pioneers, he officially introduced the sport to Mizoram in 2009.
To round out his ground game, he began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) in
Bangalore before honing his skills under Alan Fernandez under the aegis of Abu
Dhabi Top Team. During this era, he amassed an undefeated professional MMA
record, encompassing few unsanctioned bouts and one officially sanctioned
fight.
Samuel's legacy in combat sports is unparalleled in South Asia. He is the first Indian to earn a Luta
Livre black belt under Professor Ryan Peterson (lineage of Grandmaster Hugo
Duarte). Furthermore, he is one of the elite few in India to hold a Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu black belt (after 15 years of practice) under Grandmaster Joe Moreira (direct lineage of Helio Gracie), alongside
an IBJJF certification under Master Luiz
Palhares (Lineage of Rickson Gracie). He is also a certified coach under
the International MMA Federation awarded by IMMAF Director of Sports Development Andrew Moshanov and a national board member of MMA India.
His legitimacy as a black belt is proven not just by his belts,
but by the staggering success of his students, including three-time national
MMA champions and ONE Championship fighters like Lalnunsanga, Zarmawia and
Nazareth Lalthazuala.
Samuel has represented India internationally six times. His
administrative and officiating contributions are equally staggering. He served
as the founder Director of the BJJ India
Association (BJJIA) alongside Co-Founder Director Joys Varghese, National Technical Director of the Muay Boran Association of India, the
former National Coach for the Muaythai
India, and the founding Vice-President of the Ju-Jitsu Association of India.
In 2015, Samuel made history as the first Indian center referee at the IMMAF World Championships and
UFC International Fightweek in Las Vegas, sponsored by the UFC. He returned to
officiate at the 2017 and 2022 IMMAF World Championships in Bahrain and Albania
respectively. With over 1,000 sanctioned
bouts refereed in MMA and Muaythai each before 2014, he was arguably one of
the most experienced combat referee in South Asia.
Beyond personal accolades, Samuel is a true philanthropist of the fighting arts. He has utilized his personal
finances to sponsor, house, and train talented but economically disadvantaged
fighters from Northeast India. He established the SPES Martial Arts gym in
Mizoram, one of the best in the country, and founded the Mizoram State MMA
Association (MISMA) along with co-enthusiasts. For his monumental
contributions, he was inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of
Fame.
Recognizing India's immense potential for
producing elite fighters due to its vast population, as well as the need for
coach development, Samuel has begun conducting Luta Livre and Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) seminars across the country. To support this mission, Luta
Livre India and the BJJIA were specifically formed alongside his protégé, Joys
Varghese. Reach out to him today for affiliations or to elevate your
grappling skills.
A Foundation of
Discipline: Childhood and Education
Born to Dr. Thangchungnunga and the late Vanlalrammawii,
Samuel’s early life was marked by an inherent drive to stand out from the
crowd. He spent his early school years at St. Joseph School in Punjab, Mary
Mount in Tlangnuam, St. Paul’s Higher Secondary School, and at Hamdard Public
School in Delhi.
Even as a young boy, Samuel displayed an extraordinary level of
discipline. At an age when most children were engrossed in playground dramas
and video games, a six-year-old Samuel would wake up at 4:00 AM to jog and
practice martial arts in his living room. During birthdays and Christmas, he
famously preferred books over new clothes.
His fascination with the extraordinary extended to his choice of
pets, with his exotic pet roster including Clouded
Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) and Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela).
Academically, Samuel forged a unique path. He earned a Basic AME
License under DGCA in AME and B.Tech in Aeronautical Engineering and worked as
an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME).
Driven by a passion for the past, he later pursued a Master of Arts in History
through distance education. He currently shares his life with his wife, V. Lalnunpuii, their three children
(Invictus, Leo & Gabriana), and his sister, Abisac Lalhruaitluangi. The
unwavering support of his family during his early years, coupled with the
continued encouragement of his wife after marriage, has been a cornerstone of
his success across his education, athletic pursuits, social endeavors, and
professional career.
Reaching for the Skies:
An Aviation Career
Samuel’s professional life in aviation is as rigorous as his
martial arts training. His career spans several high-stakes roles across major
Indian aerospace organizations and airlines such as Government
Flying Club, National Aerospace Laboratories, Air Deccan, Kingfisher Airlines
working on Aircraft such as Cessna 172
& 152, Pushpak MKI, Aeronca Super Chief, Hansa 3 Aircraft (Rotex 914
Engine), ATR-42 320/500, ATR-72 212, Airbus 319/320/321 & 330; and
then utilizing his vast experience working as an Aviation Technical Writer for
Desires & Designs Technical Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Following his
father's retirement, he stepped away from his aviation career at his father's
request; having cleared the State Public Service Commission (PSC) examinations,
he currently serves as government
servant in Mizoram.
Literature, Arts, and
Social Influence
Samuel’s talents are not confined to engineering and fighting. A
true renaissance man, he wrote his first graphic comic book at the age of five.
He is an accomplished artist, a member of the Mizo Academy of Letters, Mizo Writers’ Association and Mizo Poetry
Society, and a prolific writer who has published 40 articles, 11 poems/songs,
and two plays. His prize-winning essay on interracial marriage garnered
widespread acclaim, and he has authored the book Thalaite Khawvel
(World of the Youths) while co-publishing Zoram tan. He also
served as News Editor for the Central Young Mizo Association’s official monthly
magazine.
His artistic endeavors even led him to the silver screen. Samuel
played a significant role in the 2012 Malayalam film Karmayogi,
an adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet, which was
screened at the prestigious International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and the
International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).
A natural leader, Samuel has held numerous executive positions
in student associations and NGOs. He previously served as the General Secretary
of the Mizoram Ministerial Service Association and as Secretary for its
Assistant Unit. He also held the position of Vice President and Chairman of
Kumpuan Sub-Committee of the Young Mizo Association, Dawrpui Branch. During his
tenure, the branch won the Central YMA's prestigious first-prize award for 'Kumpuan bawhzui tha ber' for two
consecutive years. This award recognized Dawrpui's relentless efforts in the
fight against drugs, wherein the Kumpuan committee maintained full-night
vigilance throughout the year while actively promoting education and
encouraging local youth to become better citizens. Additionally, he is deeply
involved in his faith community; he serves as a rawngbawltu (church worker), a Sunday School teacher for the Senior
Department, and a Finance Committee member at the Dawrpui Presbyterian Church.
From the quiet discipline of a 4:00 AM childhood workout to the roar of international MMA arenas and the precision of aerospace engineering, Samuel Lalrozama remains a groundbreaking figure—a visionary who has tirelessly elevated Indian combat sports while navigating a life of profound complexity and achievement.
Instagram: @kru_samuel_lalrozama_hmar
.png)
