It’s no secret that training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and grappling causes cauliflower ear. If you’re lucky enough to avoid it up until now, you may get it in the future. Undoubtedly, one of the best ways of preventing cauliflower ear and stopping it from getting worse is by using headgear. This is commonly seen in wrestling and people will also use it whilst training BJJ too. Also known as ear guards, these help protect your ears.
There are several reasons why you don’t want cauliflower ear. Firstly, it looks unsightly and can impact your personal and professional life. For instance, this could stop you from getting a promotion at work due to cauliflower ears having connotations of thuggish behavior.
Secondly, it could also ruin romantic relationships too. Although many men think cauliflower ears look masculine, studies show that most women hate it. Let’s face it, it does look ugly.
The other issue with cauliflower ear is also more serious. If it starts to cover your ear hole then it can seriously affect your hearing. Sadly, this can and does happen so no one wants to become deaf by training BJJ. This is why headguards are so important in protecting your ears.
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Victory Wrestling Headgear
These earguards use Neoprene which is a very soft material. Therefore, you won’t annoy your sparring partners if you hit them with the side of your headgear. It also means that it’s also lightweight to carry around and won’t weigh your gym bag down.
What also helps is its velcro chin strap. This means its size is adjustable and its ears also have breathing holes to make sure your ears don’t sweat too much. Reasonably priced, this is a good addition for any grappler.
ASICS Unisex Gel Wrestling Ear Guard
Aside from the ear guards, this headgear is quite lowkey and isn’t exactly bulky or ugly looking unlike some. It has thin lines of material that fit around the head and it doesn’t cover your hair so you’re not covered with sweat. In short, it does the job without being too bulky or cumbersome.
This is also lightweight and it has holes for your ears to fit in so they don’t get crushed whilst rolling too. Overall it does its job and you know with Asics that the quality of the product is assured, so it’s quite a nice ear guard.
Adidas Response Earguard
Available in over 10 different colors, the Adidas Response headgear uses four straps to go around the head and has vinyl ear guards. In other words, it’s light where it needs to be, whilst also being durable where it needs to be at the same time.
It also comes with a chin cup which means you can adjust and tighten the earguard if needed. Therefore, your chin won’t get pulled on or hurt whilst rolling as it’s nicely cushioned. Due to its build, it’s also easy to carry about and will fit easily in any gym bag.
Playwell MMA Shockwave Ju Jitsu Ear Guards
This ear guard is probably the cheapest on the market. So, if you’re after a no frills bit of head gear then the Playwell may be your best choice. This has hardened ear cups, a velcro chin strap, and a protective area for the top of your head.
The point is that this may not promise fancy technology or be particularly innovative. However, does it have to be? It does its job of serving as a good ear guard and for those on a budget, it may be an appealing option.
Matman Wrestling Headgear
The Matman Wrestling headgear uses the old fashioned wrestling style and is made to last. It’s also nice if you want to buy from home grown companies, as it’s made in the USA. Made from plastic, it also has holes in the ear so you can still hear. Obviously, this is an issue for certain ear guards which completely cover the ear.
So, next time you submit someone and they verbally tap, you won’t have to worry about hearing them or not. All jokes aside, this could become a potential safety issue so it’s good to be able to hear in BJJ at all times.
Gold BJJ Headgear
If you know BJJ, then you’ll know about Gold who make some of the best equipment in the game. This ear guard is also protected by their own money back guarantee. Therefore, if you’re unhappy with it then you can get it returned or refunded without hassle which shows the confidence of gold.
The head strap is also elastic so it has plenty of stretch whilst the chin strap is reinforced so it won’t just fall apart either. Competitively priced, this will protect your ears and ward off any cauliflower ear whilst also lasting the test of time.
Cliff Keen Fusion Headgear
Cliff Keen have been making ear guards since the 1950s so it’s fair to say they know a thing or two about headgear. Here, they’ve created a product that can be adjusted in size, meaning it can fit adults and youths. This is obviously very handy if you train with your children and want them to borrow your headgear at times.
The ear parts are made from foam and as you can see, they’re also pretty thick and built to withstand pressure.
Gamebreaker PRO
The Gamebreaker PRO is perhaps the most comprehensive head gear on the market and it costs more than others but is worth it if you want the very best. In brief, this looks like a rugby skull cap and has padding all over your head which is especially good if you land on your head from a botched sweep or takedown.
It does this by covering the entirety of the head and not just the ears. So, this is as much about head protection as it is about avoiding cauliflower ear. This means if you’re especially safety conscious then this is a great investment.
Alley Cats Wrestling Hair Cover Cap
If you want an ear guard that goes above and beyond then this may be it. The Alley Cats cover also covers your hair which is good if you want to train with long hair and don’t want it getting pulled or in the way.
It’s also good at covering the beard so if you have lots of facial hair then this also helps. Obviously, it’s not nice getting hit with a cross collar choke and getting your beard hair pulled! Aside from this extra, it also has a regular ear guard which does its job.
Ring to Cage Deluxe Ear Guard 2.0
If you’re after an oldschool, no nonsense ear guard then this fits the bill. This is one size fits all but has an adjustable strap so it’s not a problem if you have a small or larger head. What’s nice about this ear guard is that it has padding that goes beyond the ears.
This means that even if you take a glancing blow which unfortunately does happen in BJJ – then you will be fine. So, it’s not just a good defense for your ears, it’s also good at potentially stopping concussions. Whilst rare, these do sadly happen in BJJ so it’s something to look out for.
