The Rite of Passage: Earning Cauliflower Ear After a Decade on the Mats

In the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, some rites of passage come with a badge of honor: the first stripe on your white belt, the long-awaited promotion to blue, purple, or brown, and for many, the unmistakable mark of a grappler—cauliflower ear. After ten years on the mats, countless rolls, competitions, and endless hours of drilling, my turn finally came. Cauliflower ear has arrived, and with it, a strange mix of pride and pain.

The Price of Perseverance

For those who may not know, cauliflower ear is the result of repeated trauma to the ear, where cartilage damage causes swelling and hardens over time. To many on the outside, it may look like a disfigured badge of pain. But in the BJJ community, it’s almost a rite of passage—a physical mark of dedication to the grind, a testament to the hours poured into this craft.

After years of wondering if my ears would ever join the ranks of grappler lore, it finally happened. Now, even the simplest actions—like putting on a shirt or adjusting a gi collar—come with a fresh awareness of my ear's newfound sensitivity. The pain is real, like a dull throbbing reminder of every hard-fought round, every takedown, every scramble. You feel it when you lie down, when your ear brushes against the pillow, and even in the casual brush of a shirt collar.

To Drain or Not to Drain?

Once the swelling hit, my first instinct was, of course, to drain it. After all, we’re taught to address injuries, to ice bruises, to tape sprains. Cauliflower ear, though, brings a different decision: to intervene or to let nature take its course? I’ll be honest—there’s a temptation to rush to a needle and relieve the pressure, to make it “right” again. But there’s also something satisfying in leaving it alone, letting it harden and heal naturally, a slow process that mirrors the patience required in BJJ itself.

In choosing not to drain it, I feel like I’m letting the experience fully take its course. In a way, I’m embracing it. I don’t want to take shortcuts. This ear is a small symbol of my journey, a part of the physical and mental transformation that BJJ has brought over the years. Like most things in jiu-jitsu, there’s value in not taking the easy way out, in accepting the discomfort, and in letting it be.

Embracing the Journey

Getting cauliflower ear after ten years is a reminder of the journey and the lessons that come with it. It’s a reminder of the grind, of the patience and resilience that jiu-jitsu requires. The journey to black belt, or even just the journey of self-improvement on the mats, is rarely smooth or easy. It’s full of bumps, bruises, and yes, even swollen ears.

So here’s to cauliflower ear—a small, painful, inconvenient badge that I’ll wear with pride. It’s a testament to the sweat, the hard work, and the love I have for this art. For those who haven’t gotten theirs yet, don’t rush it. It’ll come in its own time, as your own journey unfolds. And when it does, you’ll know it’s just another step on the path we all share.