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Sam
30th March 2001, 13:15
Hi,

I have started judo very recently as a second activity to complement my aikido, and I have found myself enjoying it immensely.

I noticed that everyone in my club that holds a high dan grade has cauliflower (i.e. permanently swollen) ears.
I presume it is from a lot of contact during ne-waza.
The thing is I don't really want to get cauliflower ears, but I do want to participate in randori as much as possible.

I wanted to ask whether it is just a price to pay for doing lots of training or whether it can be avoided - I don't really know what causes it or how easy it is to get.
Do they go away after a while?

jscotello
30th March 2001, 15:22
Sam, I note that you are from Sheffield - which in a way helps with your solution to the Cauliflower ear problem. Contact your local rugby football club. Ruggers (especially scrum forwards) are now wearing special rubber like head bands that hold the ears in and protect them. They are soft and pliable, and therefore can not be used as a weapon. I doubt that anyone would object to you wearing this type of thing during ground work.

Bob Steinkraus
30th March 2001, 19:11
Hi, Sam and welcome to the wonderful world of judo.

Cauliflower ears are not uncommon in judo and other grappling arts. They are not exactly unavoidable, but some seniors consider them a badge of honor.

They are caused by damage to the ear. The cartilage inside the ear (the part that makes the ear stiff) is broken, or some other kind of damage occurs that causes bleeding inside the skin covering the ear. Since the skin is not broken, the blood has nowhere to go, and collects in a lump. Adding to the deformity of the ear is the break in the cartilage, so you get a double whammy. When the blood clots, scar tissue forms around the clot, and you get a permanent lump.

Cauliflower ears are treated by lancing the skin and draining out the blood. The ear is then taped so that the compression stops the bleeding, and the ear can heal in place with minimal scarring and disfiguration. You have to have this done every time you suffer a significant trauma to the ear, and the longer you wait, the less it will help.

Most of the ear trauma that leads to cauliflower ears occurs in ne-waza, but grip fighting can also cause it.

You can wear the ear protectors that some wrestlers wear, but I found them uncomfortable. I have a little suggestion of a cauliflower ear on my left, which you can feel but not see very well. I only had to have the draining done once, after the ear swelled up big time when someone was trying to get a choke hold on me from behind and ground his forearm into the side of my head and broke the cartilage.

If the ear is swollen and hot after a session of randori, especially ground randori, see a doctor.

The condition isn't dangerous, and it won't interfere with your training like a bum knee, but it isn't particularly attractive. My wife doesn't care, and my kids like to hear my war stories about judo training, and you would never mistake me for Brad Pitt anyway, so I was lucky.

Aaron Fields
31st March 2001, 02:01
Hi, my name is Aaron and I to have cauliflower ear. :) Get it drained and it won't be as bad (mine is not very noticeable.) I know a number of "old timers" that have no problem, so cauliflower ear is avoidable. Most of all just practice, if you think about it you will jinx yourself.
I agree with Bob, the ear guards are a pain, and my right ear really does not fit in most earguards so.....well now I think about it I only have cauliflower ear on my right side.............:)

MarkF
31st March 2001, 09:50
Hi, Aaron, all,
Most of those I know who have the problem have, for the most part, been wrestlers, or ne waza specialists, such as BJJ, and other types of grappling. I've had two punctures done, when they became "sebaceous" cysts, which is another reason for the swellings. Some are quite painful as they get infected due to blood occluding glands and ducts, draining and causing the lymph system to swell, and without treatment, the infection can be quite bad, but rarely needs more than cautery of the swelling as Bob said. Blood collection without a path to drain is a cause also.

These can become chronic, and some even without any athletic training of the wrestling/grappling type, can have cauliflower ears. Take care of them, don't ignore it, and any damage can be reduced to a minimum by having them drained, or if it hasn't begun to swell, sometimes with antibiotic therapy alone, they can be reduced.

But most judoka with them, usually had long careers on the shiai mat, with a pain theshhold in the extreme (they don't complain, they just continue to fight).
******

I forgot. Sam, welcome to E-budo!:wave:

Mark

BTW: This should not be happening in the general day in, day out judo dojo. Ask them about it. I'm sure they are proud of them. They also may have other ways of avoiding further trauma, as the fracture of the cartiledge is almost always painful, and may become worse with swelling. Ice is the preferable first aid, and don't be afraid to tap out if you are in this position.

Sam
31st March 2001, 12:25
Thanks for your advice guys! You have been very reassuring - I thought it was just something that could appear without any warning, but it seems if you take care of yourself there shouldn't be a problem.

BTW I'm going to my first grading/competiton in a few days so wish me luck!
I can only do harai-goshi, but I'll try it like there's no tomorrow!

MarkF
1st April 2001, 12:05
Good luck, Sam!

Mark