My Brush with the ‘Grappler’s Ear’
So, I saw some pictures, you know, guys like Vinicius Cruz, those fighters. Their ears look… well, they look messed up. People call it cauliflower ear. Honestly, I didn’t think much about it at first. Just looked kinda gnarly, part of the whole fighting thing I guess.
Then I started doing some Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu myself. Just for fun, get a workout, learn something new. It was great, really enjoyed rolling around, trying to figure out the techniques. But man, it gets rough sometimes. Lots of pressure, heads rubbing, getting stuck in positions you don’t wanna be in.
One evening, after a particularly tough session – lots of escaping headlocks and trying to pass guard – my left ear started feeling really hot. Like, burning hot. And sore. I didn’t think much of it, figured it was just bruised. Went home, showered, went to bed.
Woke up the next morning and looked in the mirror. Whoa. My ear was swollen. Not huge, but definitely puffy and tender. Felt kinda soft and squishy in one spot. My first thought was, “Oh crap, is this it? Am I getting that cauliflower thing?”
I poked it gently. Didn’t hurt like crazy, but it was definitely uncomfortable. I remembered hearing guys at the gym talk about draining their ears. Sounded gross. Like, sticking a needle in there? No thanks. I also heard stories, you know, about how bad it can get if you don’t deal with it. Some nasty stuff apparently happens.
So, what did I do?
- First, I iced it. Put an ice pack on it for like 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off, a few times that day.
- Second, I took it easy. Decided to skip training for a few days. Didn’t want to make it worse.
- Third, I started looking into headgear. Yeah, I know, some people think it’s lame, but I wasn’t sure I wanted my ears looking like crushed walnuts just yet.
Talked to one of the coaches. He just laughed, said “Welcome to the club, happens to everyone.” He showed me his own ears, pretty mangled. Said some guys drain it, some just let it harden. He told me if it got really big or painful, I should see a doctor, but mine looked minor.
Luckily, the swelling went down after a few days of rest and ice. It felt a little thicker maybe, but didn’t turn into the full-blown cauliflower ear you see on pros. It was a bit of a wake-up call though. Made me realize this grappling stuff isn’t just fun and games; there’s real wear and tear involved. You gotta listen to your body, take care of the small stuff before it becomes big stuff.
So yeah, that was my little scare with the ‘Vinicius Cruz ear’. Didn’t get the badge of honor this time, and honestly, I’m okay with that for now. Still training, just maybe a bit more careful about protecting my head. And yeah, I bought the headgear. Better safe than sorry, right?
