In jiu jitsu, we use our heads a lot. And I don't just mean figuratively, but also literally. We use our heads to base, to help pin, to drive into our opponent's chin in a gentle encouragement to let us pass, etc. And sometimes it just simply gets in the way... of a knee or elbow or even another noggin.

So, needless to say, we put our heads and necks at risk when we practice jiu jitsu. Here's what to expect - and hopefully avoid - in regard to those kinds of injuries: 

Cauliflower Ear

Let's start with hands down the most common affliction: cauliflower ear. If you haven't noticed the gnarled, chewed-up ears on some of the guys - and gals - then you obviously have never stepped on the mat before. Also called "wrestler's ear", cauliflower ear happens when the perichondrium (the layer of connective tissue between your skin and cartilage) separates from the cartilage of your ear, creating a pocket that quickly fills with blood and other bodily fluid. Untreated, abnormal cartilage forms on top of the normal cartilage, and the cartilage may even contract into itself, resulting in a lumpy, misshapen appearance. Cauliflower ear is typically treated by draining the fluid - often repeatedly - and applying pressure in an attempt to re-adhere the perichondrium to the cartilage. I say "attempt" because it's not a guarantee... I speak from personal experience. If you're really concerned about having pretty ears, you can always seek medical assistance to have your ear professionally drained and compressed. In either case, plan to take at least a week or two off training, as fresh cauliflower is incredibly tender to the touch. Of course, you can always try training through it by wearing wrestling headgear, but prepare to live in Guillotine City while you do.  

Lacerations

Jiu jitsu is not a striking sport... but, well, shit happens. At least once - and maybe more than once - in your career, you will get an inadvertent elbow or knee to the head, resulting in a laceration (a cut, in layman's terms). The most common places for these are: around the eyebrows, on the lips, on the chin, and on the forehead or scalp. These range from "simple" lacerations, in which the cut is relatively straight and the edges of the tissue can be easily lined up, to "complicated" lacerations, in which the edges are jagged and the cut is deep, requiring more than one layer of skin to be stitched up. If the cut is small and shallow enough, you can probably get away with a few Steri-Strips to close it up and allow your body to heal itself. However, when we do get hit in in jiu jitsu, it's usually hard enough to warrant going to urgent car and getting stitches put in by a medical professional. In either case, the first thing you should do is stop rolling, get off the mat, gently clean the cut with a mild soap and water, control the bleeding with a sterile gauze, and apply ice and pressure to reduce the swelling. 

Stinger

Common in pretty much all contact sports, a stinger occurs when the "neck is forced sideways and away from the shoulder or pushed backward... This sudden force pinches—or acutely stretches—the nerves in the neck." While it's certainly not as common as in rugby or football, or even other martial arts such as boxing and kickboxing, stingers can still happen in jiu jitsu, especially when training in the gentle art becomes not-so-gentle. When the nerves are pinched, it sends an "intense, electric-like pain" shooting down the back of the neck, and sometimes down the arm and into the hand, causing some numbness and weakness in that extremity. The effects can last anywhere from a few seconds or a few minutes, to even days. Ice and anti-inflammatories are the best on-the-spot treatment for stingers, but I shouldn't have to sound like your mother when I say: if you're experiencing pain and/or numbness for more than a couple days, you obviously should seek medical attention. However, even if it's less than a day, don't mess around with head and neck injuries, especially when they involve the nerves. The goal in jiu jitsu is longevity. So don't be a tough guy and go get it checked out. 

Concussion

On that note, if you get knocked in the head hard enough, or maybe a gnarly takedown sent your braincase crashing into the mat before you had time to roll or tuck your chin - PLEASE learn how to properly breakfall, kids - you are definitely at risk of a concussion. A concussion happens when the brain is basically thrown against the wall of your skull, either from direct impact or a whiplash-type scenario. Symptoms typically include: headache and blurred vision, irritability, difficulty focusing, and fatigue. Again, you don't want to mess around with head injuries, especially when it affects the brain. If your symptoms are bad enough (and note: they may not appear until days after the event), or if the impact knocked you unconscious, you might want to go to the hospital. Otherwise, rest - both physical and mental - is really the only thing you can do for it. Yes, you read that correctly: keep your butt off the mat for a while, at least a week or two. If you're suffering from an associated headache, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen, but don't take an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen and aspirin, as they can increase the risk of bleeding... you don't want that happening in your noggin.

Luckily, serious head and neck injuries are really relatively rare in the jiu jitsu community. But they do happen. The best way to prevent them is 1) taking care of your training partners, and not trying to kill them over some dumb ego trip, 2) trying your best to train in a controlled manner, and 3) avoiding any spazzy training partners, which are usually white belts, but exist at every belt level... even black.

Train on... Safely. Oss.