MAT MOVES

When asked about his favorite Brazilian Jiu Jitsu technique, Alan “Gumby” Marques uses his best closed guard to deflect the question.

“I don’t really have a “favorite” technique, but prefer to flow with the go and work what is available at the time,” says Marques. “I do have a mindset of techniques in my arsenal that are applicable in a wide range of situations, including gi and no gi, competition, MMA and self-defense.”

When pressed, though, the owner of Heroes Martial Arts in San Jose admits he’s a huge proponent of the arm drag. In self-defense situations, it has come in handy more than a few times, he adds. Moreover, the time-tested technique meets his requirement of wide-applicability.

Marques breaks down arm drag and its applications: