The Minnesota River Bluffs new home for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
River city Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is owned and operated by Alliance Jiu Jitsu black belt, and Winona native, Erik Miner. Erik moved from Winona to the twin cities to study Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2005. Over these years, Erik competed all over the country and medaled in numerous regional, international and world tournaments. He has been fortunate enough to have spent time training with dozens of world champions, Olympic level grapplers and NCAA national champions. Erik and his family moved to Winona in 2021 to raise their family and open a gym to share the Jiu Jitsu lifestyle with the community he grew up in.
I am very excited to be back in Winona after all of these years. I grew up loving the outdoors, but taking for granted the natural beauty and rich life that is at our fingertips here. Each time I would return to Winona, it would set in a little more of how great of an area this really is. The Alliance Jiu Jitsu gym that I have been fortunate to be a part of has wholeheartedly revolutionized every aspect of my life. My goal is to share that culture and lifestyle with the people in the Winona area in an extremely friendly and welcoming environment. If you have ever considered jiu jitsu, please contact us!
Class Schedule
Instructors
It’s hard to talk about our Judo and BJJ instructors without sounding like we’re bragging. The plain fact of the matter is that we have one of the best teams of martial arts instructors you will find anywhere. Led by Erik Miner, our instructors are talented, accomplished, passionate and the kind of people you just enjoy hanging out with, because after all, although we take what we do very seriously, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is supposed to be fun.
Erik Miner
Head Coach
Alliance BJJ Black Belt
Erik has competed all over the country and medaled in numerous regional, international and world tournaments. He has been fortunate enough to have spent time training with dozens of world champions, Olympic level grapplers and NCAA national champions. Erik and his family moved to Winona in 2021 to raise their family and open a gym to share the Jiu Jitsu lifestyle with the community he grew up in.
J.R. Westberg
Assistant Coach
Alliance BJJ Brown Belt
J.R. is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt under Damian Hirtz from Alliance Minnesota. He started jiu-jitsu in early 2009 as a temporary means to stay in shape during the cold Minnesota winter, but fell in love with the sport and never stopped. J.R. has competed in multiple tournaments as a blue and purple belt and enjoys the coaching and strategy of jiu-jitsu tournaments. When off the mats, he works as the research director for orthopaedic surgery at Hennepin County Medical Center, and is also pursuing a master’s degree in public health at John University in Baltimore, MD.
Corey Hentig
Assistant Coach
Alliance BJJ Brown Belt
Corey is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt who has had a life-long passion for grappling. Corey started out as a High School Wrestler and Coach, in 2013 he began training in BJJ to get back into a healthy hobby and reconnect with grappling when a “normal” workout just wasn’t enough. Corey enjoys competing occasionally to test his progress, but his real passion is just enjoying all the friendships and experience gained through training. Corey’s continued goal is to improve his Jiu Jitsu and gain more experience instructing.