For hobbyist grapplers playing the long game

Stay Strong.
Stay Healthy.Stay Formidable.

The Old Lion Jiu Jitsu project is building a community for hobbyist grapplers aged 30-50 who want to stay strong, healthy and dangerous on the mats for decades to come.

Evidence-informed guidance on training, recovery and nutrition. Build around real life, not a full-time athlete's schedule. 

Old Lion mascot
Old Lion mascot

Who It's For

Still On The Mats. Still Adapting.

The Old Lion Jiu Jitsu project is for 30-50 year old grapplers who love training but need a smarter approach to sustain it. Not a full-time athlete. Not someone ready to retire from rolling. Just someone who wants to keep showing up — and keep being effective when they do.

You train around real life — work, family, travel, stress and everything else that doesn't care about your recovery window.

You want your body to last — fewer avoidable setbacks, better recovery, more years on the mats doing what you love.

You still want to be effective — not just mobile and comfortable, but genuinely capable and hard to deal with when you roll.

You value evidence over hype — practical guidance that fits a hobbyist's life, not advice built for a professional athlete's schedule.

What We're Building

Four Areas. One Purpose.

Everything in the Old Lion Jiu Jitsu project is built around one question: what actually helps the mature hobbyist grappler stay on the mats, recover properly and remain a problem to deal with?

The Old Lion Lifting Club

Strength & Conditioning

Build a body that supports your Jiu Jitsu, not one that fights against it. Get stronger, more resilient and better prepared for the demands of the mats.

Strength and conditioning

The Foundry

Nutrition, Recovery & Body Maintenance

Learn how to fuel performance, recover well, control your body composition and look after your body, so you can keep training consistently for years to come.

Recovery and body maintenance

The Academy

Masterclass Education & Insights

Cut through the noise with practical, evidence-based guidance for grapplers playing the long game. Helping you make better decisions on and off the mats.

Nutrition for grapplers

The Pride

The Old Lion Community

Connect with like-minded grapplers who are balancing work, family and Jiu Jitsu. Honest conversations, shared experiences and a community built for the long game.

Education and community

Who's Behind It

Built By People Who Actually Train.

The Old Lion Jiu Jitsu project is led by Dr Rob Miller and Dr Michael Johnston — two practitioners with PhDs in sport science, 35 combined years working at the sharp end of elite performance, and 20+ years between them on the mats. They still train. And like you, they do it around full-time careers, everyday life and family commitments.

Qualifications

Two sport science PhDs — specialising in neuromuscular physiology and athletic performance

Elite Sport Track Record

35 combined years working with Olympic and World Championship level athletes across 25+ sports and disciplines

On The Mats

Black and brown belts with 20+ combined years training, and have helped support multiple BJJ athletes to medal winning performances at European and World level

"Ageing isn't the enemy. Not learning to adapt is."

Join The Pride

Stay In The Loop. Stay Sharp.

Sign up to our mailing list and we'll send you practical, evidence-informed ideas on training, recovery, nutrition and life on and off the mats — no spam, no hype. 

Training guidance built around the hobbyist who trains BJJ 2–4 times a week
Recovery insights for managing soreness, load and the realities of ageing joints
Nutrition principles that fit a real schedule — not a professional athletes
Honest conversations from practitioners who understand what it's like to love BJJ as a hobbyist