Holding Together

So this is a strange one, but it comes up often in class, especially with people who just train to train. How to avoid the look of a seasoned competitor? How to avoid cauliflower ear, massive knuckles, a smashed face, and singular torso-head combo? How to maintain a “professional” appearance? First, use a mouth guard and wrestling headgear. Prevention is key if you’re really worried about it. Grab the sleeve at the wrist less if possible. Junky fingers come from sleeve grips. Not having a smashed face is somewhat style and partner dependent, so advice on that is case by case, and if you’re destined to have no neck, BJJ is only going to exacerbate that issue. You can avoid looking like you fight people in your free time for the most part if you’re smart about it.