Archive for December, 2011

The Ultimate Resource to Cauliflower Ears

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

Exactly what is a cauliflower ear?
A Cauliflower ear is only a bruise (or hematoma) that does not heal. Your ear is made up of cartilage so when you get a hit or knock towards the ear blood enters you ear and becomes stuck between the cartilage. When the blood cannot drain and obtain out of the ear it will stay within the ear, set and become rather hard. Because the blood within the ear starts going hard the cartilage will begin to die, which makes it shrivel and fold a little bit which is why a cauliflower ear looks twisted, similar to a cauliflower.

How do you have it?
Lots of people think that you receive a cauliflower in one direct hit, but this is rare. Most players obtain cauliflowers from training six days per week and also the ears are constantly getting hit and bumped constantly. For this reason the more experienced and serious trainers get cauliflower ears as the recreational players staying somewhat un-scarred. Judokas get hit in the head from defending grips, Rugby players stick their heads into scrums and Brazilian Jujitsu practitioners get their ears stuck between your mat and their opponent.

How do doctors fix it?
A doctor will put a nearby anaesthetic in your ear first and then stick a syringe in and proceed to suck out all of the blood that’s stuck in the ear. If you ear has been swollen for several days and it is beginning to go hard the doctor might have to use a sharp knife to make an incision before taking out the blood with the syringe.

If your cauliflower isn’t that bad the doctor may request you to rub some anti-inflammatory cream around the ear in addition to request you to ice it 3 to 5 times each day. This will assist in reducing the swelling within the ear.

When should I drain it?
Sooner is preferable to later. If you do drain your ear immediately, prior to the cartilage is damaged then your ear will more frequently than go back to the way it normally looked. If you do not drain it straight away the blood will go hard, once this occurs you cannot drain the blood out and the only way to repair it is to get an operation.

Can you prevent them?
You can put on some headgear called “Cauli stoppers” to avoid a Cauliflower ear. The headgear will protect your ears from getting hit and they’re well worth the cost for individuals who never want cauliflower ears.

E3 Pride: Knowing When to Keep Your Cool

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

It is a fact that after you try to better yourself using the principles of street self-defense, you begin to think yourself to be “Mr. High and Mighty.” When you may have the right to feel proud of what you’ve achieved, it is unhealthy to consider that in to the head. As if you, many fighting techinques practitioners lose their heads in the clouds and make the third deadly street fighting sin.

“E3″ is really a term I use to ensure my techniques and training techniques filter via a series of “judgment days”. It stands for Effective, Efficient and simple. You may be among the practitioners who become arrogant to what you train, and just how you train it. In most instances, a move becomes your favorite because it “looks cool”, or because you have been doing the work for so many years. Hence, you tend to overlook the proven fact that your preferred move is Ineffective and Inefficient today. It’s also Difficult or impractical to teach and/or do; but you will it anyway.

Let me break down these “mini filters”, and what they mean. Everything you do in fighting techinques must be:

Effective: Your techniques have to be successful against different sized opponents. They have to also be beneficial in different environments. I know you may be able to do a spinning kick in the well-lit dojo against someone your personal size, but can you do it inside a narrow hallway against someone who has 75 pounds you? Be aware that in street self-defense, the chances could be completely against you; so you have to get ready for that possibility.

Efficient: Of course your moves must be quick, easy and economical, but so must your training methods be. Training a move for hours each day could make the “Most Dedicated Student of the Year”, but is there a way which can reduce your training time, and give you similar results? Be aware that in street self defense, you can’t afford to lose time so instill the habit of efficiency as early as today.

Easy: The moves I actually do and teach must pass the Jr. High School test. If they’re not not so difficult for a Jr. Senior high school Student to do, no way. When you are under real stress of the real attack, the mind goes to mush. Make your moves easy, and stress won’t affect them just as much.

To become better fighter, concentrate on effectiveness, efficiency and ease; rather than being too proud on only one move. Invest of the techniques and training methods with these filters, and you’ll instantly become better in street self-defense.