Alan Robert Marques
Alan Robert Marques co-founded OnTheMat and Heroes Martial Arts, combining jiu-jitsu teaching with writing and filmmaking.
Biography
Sources for this profile
BJJ Heroes.(opens in a new tab)
Marques was born in Daly City, California, in 1973.
Where in the source: Biography.
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After college, long computer-based workdays prompted him to seek exercise. Ralph Gracie’s new Mountain View academy lay between home and work; he joined in 1996.
Where in the source: Training origins.
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Marques founded OnTheMat with training partner Scott Nelson. When Nelson moved to Brazil after 2001, Marques stayed to document the American scene through writing and video.
Where in the source: OnTheMat development.
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SanJose.com, 2012.(opens in a new tab)
Marques practiced judo as a child and later studied English at Santa Clara University.
Where in the source: Early background.
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He moved to the South Bay for college in 1991 and remained there.
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His flexibility inspired the school nickname Gumby; jiu-jitsu teammates later adopted it.
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Marques and David McCleod opened Heroes Martial Arts in downtown San Jose in 2009.
Where in the source: Introduction.
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About.(opens in a new tab)
Marques joined Ralph Gracie’s Mountain View school in 1996. At his 2006 black-belt promotion, Ralph gave him his own belt. Heroes’ comic-book name reflected the wish for a lighter atmosphere with martial-arts respect.
Where in the source: History.
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Heroes expanded to Eastside San Jose in 2020 under Nick Borbon, who began training at seventeen; Trevor Ireland became Downtown’s head instructor. Samurai BJJ in Campbell joined in 2023, led there by Rich Jackson and Kevin Kopecky.
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Marques founded and teaches through Heroes Martial Arts.
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Heroes Online.(opens in a new tab)
He co-founded OnTheMat in 1997 and traveled to film, promote and train, covering organizations including ADCC and IBJJF. He also taught at Ralph Gracie’s academy.
Where in the source: Who is Gumby.
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Heroes Online offers remastered OnTheMat footage from 1999–2005 and later, drawn from original digital masters.
Where in the source: Old School Footage.
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His online program combines positional fundamentals, strategies and partner drills with interactive classes and questions.
Where in the source: Courses and Live Classes.
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Gymdesk, 2021.(opens in a new tab)
Marques outgrew part-time classes and opened Heroes with his teacher’s approval. He valued the immediate feedback and relationships that teaching offered.
Where in the source: Founding and choice of teaching.
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In January 2021, Marques reported over two hundred days of pandemic closure during 2020. Member support and sustained communication helped the school continue through remote teaching.
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His business approach balanced students’ needs with teaching standards, alongside maintaining the school and making it visible in its community.
Where in the source: Ownership answers.
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Marques interview, 2014.(opens in a new tab)
In 2014 he described personally teaching beginners, grounding techniques in context before individual specialization.
Where in the source: General Instruction.
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A rotating fundamentals syllabus covered thirty lessons in four months; advanced work explored related themes and students developed their own choices.
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Training progressed through resisted techniques, positional tasks and sparring, with intensity matched to experience. Experienced partners were encouraged to explore instead of always seeking victory.
Where in the source: Training intensity.
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Heroes, 2026.(opens in a new tab)
The January 2026 Executive Class announcement identifies Marques as a fifth-degree black belt.
Where in the source: Introduction.
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His stated black-belt degree in January 2026 is fifth.
Where in the source: Introduction.
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He leads an early-morning program for working adults, combining gi and no-gi practice with structured lessons and rounds; preparing interested students for World Master competition is one stated goal.
Where in the source: Executive Class program.
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