Headgear for BJJ

trewq

White Belt
@White
Joined
Jul 9, 2011
Messages
92
Reaction score
0
Can anyone recommend some headgear that is good for BJJ? I had a Cliff Keen Tornado for years, but I lost it recently when moving across the country. I was happy with the Cliff Keen, but it is the only headgear I have ever owned, so I don't know if it was good or bad.
 
What are you going to do when cauliflower ears start to develop?
Take a break in training?
I trained for 17 years without getting cauliflower ear. Then rolling with a white belt while visiting a school he spazed like white belts do and kicked me in the ear.
Try using technique instead of strength to pull your head out. Then you don't need head gear
 
I like the Cliff Keen Twister ear guards also. Thinking of getting another one to replace one I have.
 
I went with a new cliff keen product called the fusion. After doing some Internet research, I decided to try the brute quad iii because of the low profile. The size of the cliff keen cups was my only complaint about the ck tornado I had. But right as I was ordering the quad iii, an advertisement popped up for the fusion and I thought I would give it a try. It won't be released for another couple of weeks, but I can post a review here once I get it if anyone is interested.
 
Please do post a review for the fusion when you get it.
 
I prefer the Cliff Keen signature. It very durable and had soft mat padding on the outside, so it won't hurt your training partner.

The material it's made out of makes it easy to clean and wash and it only takes seconds to dry.
 
Rugby players have some good looking ear keepers but you could tape that shit down.
 
I've read people recommending rugby headgear, but that looks way too hot. Wrestling headgear is already too hot on summer days. I can't imagine wearing rugby gear.
 
Ok. 1st time shame on you second time shame on me. I don't know why I chose to come back to this thread but I am now on a mission. Anyone I roll with that wears headgear is getting g cauliflower. This is ridiculous
 
I trained for 17 years without getting cauliflower ear. Then rolling with a white belt while visiting a school he spazed like white belts do and kicked me in the ear.
Try using technique instead of strength to pull your head out. Then you don't need head gear

This is a very narrow outlook. Some people's ears stick out more than others and are more prone to getting rubbed on or bumped. Your experience is one end of the spectrum. I, on the other hand, started getting cauliflower after a couple months of training - from the pressure of my opponents controlling my head from side mount, back mount, or reaching through when I was turtled. "Don't let those things happen to you" isn't an option for a comparative novice rolling with upper belts.

I have used a Cliff Keen F5. It was ok, though I always had trouble with the forehead strap dropping down near my eyebrows no matter what adjustments I made elsewhere.
 
Last edited:
This is a very narrow outlook. Some people's ears stick out more than others and are more prone to getting rubbed on or bumped. Your experience is one end of the spectrum. I, on the other hand, started getting cauliflower after a couple months of training - from the pressure of my opponents controlling my head from side mount, back mount, or reaching through when I was turtled. "Don't let those things happen to you" isn't an option for a comparative novice rolling with upper belts.

I have used a Cliff Keen F5. It was ok, though I always had trouble with the forehead strap dropping down near my eyebrows no matter what adjustments I made elsewhere.
That's your narrow perspective. Maybe 3 percent of the schools I go to have people with head gear. Maybe 10 percent of the people have cauliflower ear. So maybe you have a narrow perspective
I asked Royce why he didn't have it. He said because he used good technique. But I'm sure your perspective is better than his.
 
That's your narrow perspective. Maybe 3 percent of the schools I go to have people with head gear. Maybe 10 percent of the people have cauliflower ear. So maybe you have a narrow perspective
I asked Royce why he didn't have it. He said because he used good technique. But I'm sure your perspective is better than his.

Oh, the old "my grandpa smoked for 60 years and never got cancer, so cigarettes aren't dangerous" logic.
 
Oh, the old "my grandpa smoked for 60 years and never got cancer, so cigarettes aren't dangerous" logic.
Nope my grandfather died of cancer. You don't need headgear. What percent of students that you train with wear them? How long have you been training?
Your logic.is actually worse. I'm going to have shitty technique and let a guy jack up my ears so I'm going to wear fuckin ear muffs.
 
That's your narrow perspective. Maybe 3 percent of the schools I go to have people with head gear. Maybe 10 percent of the people have cauliflower ear. So maybe you have a narrow perspective
I asked Royce why he didn't have it. He said because he used good technique. But I'm sure your perspective is better than his.

Uh, sure. I guess these guys all have bad technique?

maxresdefault.jpg
maxresdefault.jpg
bio_leandro_lo-640x360.jpg
maxresdefault.jpg
Caio1.jpg
 
Last edited:
I do not see headgear in any of these pictures. Like I said. 17 years in I got it too.

Ahh I give up. I'm out.

I admit to now being mystified as to your point.

If 10% of people get cauliflower ear (your number) and they get cauliflower from training regardless if they have good technique (pics above), then that seems to lead pretty clearly towards wearing headgear if you don't want cauliflower, the specifics of which is the purpose of this thread.
 
Last edited:
Cauliflower ear is an INJURY TO THE EAR. It's just so incredibly common that people in BJJ see it in a weird way, like it's not an injury. But it is, and it can cause pain and hearing problems as it worsens. I know guys that got it in their first couple months of training - like most injuries it can either be an accumulation of small injuries or one big one - I know a guy who got caught in a brutal triangle in his first month or two and his ear immediately ballooned out - voila instant cauliflower.

I personally decided when I started that I didn't want to get it so I've been using the BRUTE QUAD 4, almost since day one - I'm a purple belt now 5.5 years in. My ears are beautiful, supple ears and have taken no injury - ear model level hahaha. It doesn't interfere with rolling, I've even competed in them. They take getting used to (you have to tie them super tight and you will feel like you are choking for a few weeks) but work great once you are used to them - and they are smooth and low profile so they not only don't bother my training partners but actually help me slip out of stuff due to lack of friction.

They are hard to find in all black now - too bad, those were my favorite.

0239_BLBL_1.jpg
 
Back
Top