About
Heroes Martial Arts Youth Classes offers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for young students as part of its youth classes. The program is part of Heroes Martial Arts, which also offers adult classes, private lessons, and self defense workshops. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in these classes is a grappling-based martial art where students learn to use the principles of position and leverage to control and subdue an opponent.
• Price: Your First Week of Classes for only $19 No Contracts !
Heroes Martial Arts Youth Classes is led within an organization founded by Alan “Gumby” Marques, a 4th Degree Black Belt who received his black belt in 2006 from Ralph Gracie. The broader Heroes Martial Arts team includes Alan “Gumby” Marques as Founder and Head Instructor, Nick “Eastside” Borbon as head instructor at the Eastside San Jose location, Trevor Ireland as main instructor at the downtown Heroes location, Rich Jackson as founder of Samurai Jiu Jitsu, and Kevin Kopecky as head instructor at the Campbell location. Heroes Martial Arts was established in 2009, with the downtown San Jose location opening in 2009, the Eastside location opening in 2020, Samurai Jiu Jitsu opening in 2015, and Samurai Jiu Jitsu officially merging with Heroes Martial Arts in 2023.
The program’s culture is described by Heroes Martial Arts as being based on simplicity and respect, and on Common Sense and Common Courtesy, and the name Heroes came from wanting a lighter representation of martial arts than was being presented at the time. Training Jiu Jitsu at Heroes Martial Arts is compared by the program to having superpowers, with a comic book motif and a reference to Spider-Man’s quote “with great power comes great responsibility.” Heroes Martial Arts states that it has taught thousands of students, from first introduction to Jiu Jitsu to high level competitors and instructors, and that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the fastest growing and most effective martial art in the world.
Heroes Martial Arts notes that access to all three locations (Downtown San Jose, Eastside San Jose, Samurai Campbell) is available with membership, and that it now has four locations: Downtown San Jose, East Side San Jose, Campbell and Los Gatos. The organization also states that Gumby is currently the president of the San Jose Downtown Association and that Heroes has worked with the community and provided self defense workshops.
Parent and student reviews describe the instructors as top-notch, professional, down to earth, casual, and friendly, and describe the overall culture as friendly and welcoming to both seasoned practitioners and complete beginners. One youth student review reports that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Heroes Martial Arts helped the student cope and calm down anger, and describes the atmosphere as chill and calm, with coaches and students contributing to that environment. Other reviews describe Heroes Martial Arts as having fantastic instructors, excellent culture, and being a place to work hard, grow, and learn.
Last updated May 15, 2026.
• Price: Your First Week of Classes for only $19 No Contracts !
Heroes Martial Arts Youth Classes is led within an organization founded by Alan “Gumby” Marques, a 4th Degree Black Belt who received his black belt in 2006 from Ralph Gracie. The broader Heroes Martial Arts team includes Alan “Gumby” Marques as Founder and Head Instructor, Nick “Eastside” Borbon as head instructor at the Eastside San Jose location, Trevor Ireland as main instructor at the downtown Heroes location, Rich Jackson as founder of Samurai Jiu Jitsu, and Kevin Kopecky as head instructor at the Campbell location. Heroes Martial Arts was established in 2009, with the downtown San Jose location opening in 2009, the Eastside location opening in 2020, Samurai Jiu Jitsu opening in 2015, and Samurai Jiu Jitsu officially merging with Heroes Martial Arts in 2023.
The program’s culture is described by Heroes Martial Arts as being based on simplicity and respect, and on Common Sense and Common Courtesy, and the name Heroes came from wanting a lighter representation of martial arts than was being presented at the time. Training Jiu Jitsu at Heroes Martial Arts is compared by the program to having superpowers, with a comic book motif and a reference to Spider-Man’s quote “with great power comes great responsibility.” Heroes Martial Arts states that it has taught thousands of students, from first introduction to Jiu Jitsu to high level competitors and instructors, and that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the fastest growing and most effective martial art in the world.
Heroes Martial Arts notes that access to all three locations (Downtown San Jose, Eastside San Jose, Samurai Campbell) is available with membership, and that it now has four locations: Downtown San Jose, East Side San Jose, Campbell and Los Gatos. The organization also states that Gumby is currently the president of the San Jose Downtown Association and that Heroes has worked with the community and provided self defense workshops.
Parent and student reviews describe the instructors as top-notch, professional, down to earth, casual, and friendly, and describe the overall culture as friendly and welcoming to both seasoned practitioners and complete beginners. One youth student review reports that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Heroes Martial Arts helped the student cope and calm down anger, and describes the atmosphere as chill and calm, with coaches and students contributing to that environment. Other reviews describe Heroes Martial Arts as having fantastic instructors, excellent culture, and being a place to work hard, grow, and learn.
Last updated May 15, 2026.
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