Meet The Motion City Team

Motion City’s tight-knit, family-oriented environment can be hard to find at another Jiu Jitsu school.

We take pride in this atmosphere and take care of one another to encourage growth and camaraderie. Our head instructors also have a background in education, making them experienced and well-equipped for teaching martial arts. Motion City constantly strives to be the best, with hands-on instruction from highly-experienced instructors, a modern training space, and a commitment to the individual improvement of each and every student. We uphold an encouraging and uplifting environment, and above all else, want to see you succeed. If you join Motion City, you’ll not only grow as an athlete, but you’ll grow tremendously as a person.

Here at Motion City, our staff is the secret to our student success.

Motion City opened in early 2024 by a small but dedicate team. Aidan and Michelle used learnings from past Jiu Jitsu academies to create a perfect environment. They left behind any negativity to focus on what they loved. When creating Motion City, the vision was always to be all-encompassing and provide room for the curriculum to grow. We strongly believe that any motion improves your health and is good for your personal development. As the Motion City team navigates the early stages of our school, we strive to build a safe environment and legacy.  Meet the team below!

Co-Owner, Instructor
Owner, Instructor
Assistant Youth Coach

Free Week Trial!

Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just starting out, our classes cater to all skill levels, providing a supportive environment for growth and success.

Motion City

Aidan Donovan

Co-owner & Instructor

Coach Aidan started BJJ in 2008 when looking for another means to cardio. He has an extensive background in teaching both adults and youth.

Coach Aidan has a passion for beginners as he’s never lost sight of how hard it was to start.

He has a keen ability to teach concepts in Jiu Jitsu making it easy for all levels to learn. In his spare time, he loves to spend time with his kids, dogs, and wife outdoors, as well as being the family chef.

Motion City

Michelle Donovan

Owner & Instructor

Coach Michelle started BJJ in 2010 after her husband introduced her to the martial art.

She adapted to the lifestyle and started heavily competing in 2015, most notably becoming a Pans medalist in 2018 and competing at the highest levels. She has a passion for women in Jiu Jitsu, has experience training through 2 pregnancies, and a deep knowledge in competition as well as youth.

Aside from Jiu Jitsu, Michelle loves to stay active with her two kids, two dogs and husband.

Motion City

Coach Ashley

Youth Coach

Coach Ashley started Jiu Jitsu in late 2016 when she was 13 years old with Coach Michelle and Aidan.

She has a unique perspective in that she started when she was a youth so helping to teach kids comes naturally.

Ashley loves learning and doing Jiu Jitsu and is excited to help the new generation love it the same as her.

Class Schedule!

Stay up to date on class times! Contact us if you have any questions about our classes.

About Our

Team

In addition to their technical expertise, our instructors are also excellent teachers who know how to create a supportive and challenging learning environment. They understand that every student is unique and tailor their approach to meet the needs of each individual.

Our instructors also prioritize safety, ensuring that all students learn and practice techniques in a safe and controlled manner. They are committed to helping our students build strong foundations in Jiu-Jitsu, and are always available to answer questions and provide feedback.

Motion City

Get Started Today

Motion City welcomes nearby communities including including Minneapolis, St Anthony, Shoreview, North Oaks, Arden Hills and more to learn martial arts and fitness in a friendly environment! Join our Jiu Jitsu academy in Interstate Corporate Centre across the street from Caribou Coffee.