I often post on more serious topics, but occasionally I like to make non-serious ones that cause no drama or debate.
This is one of those posts.
Have you ever walked into a gym or even down the street, and been like “Yup, he is a grappler”?
The longer someone has been training jiu-jitsu, the easier it is to spot them in general.
Some of these signs are pretty easy to spot and some are a little more subtle, so let’s jump into this.
Here are five quick ways to spot a grappler.
Cauliflower Ear
This one doesn’t develop in everyone, but it is almost a surefire sign of a veteran grappler.
Years of training can take a toll on the ear. While some people take care of their ears and drain them instantly, many people wear cauliflower ears as a badge of honor.
Bruises and Black Eyes
While black eyes are still pretty rare, bruises can be anywhere and everywhere. We tend to find them randomly while changing. I can’t count how many times I have found a random bruise and been like “When did that happen”?
So, if you see someone walking around and spot some weird bruise, they may just be a veteran grappler.
Tape
Tape is our best friend. We can tape just about anything for a quick fix to train, but most commonly our fingers.
I have gotten some pretty strange looks after training when I go to the store and forget to take my finger tape off.
T-Shirts
I have noticed a trend in my t-shirt arsenal. Over time jiu-jitsu practitioners end up with a lot of tournament shirts and academy shirts.
In fact, that’s basically all I have now.
Food Restrictions
It seems like I am always on some new diet in an effort to either lose weight or gain for a specific weight class. People who don’t train often look at me weird as some months I’ll be eating very little carbs and another they’ll see me downing a 2000-calorie meal.
These are five very common signs of a grappler. There are of course others, but I think these are pretty objective.
How long have you been training, and how many of these apply to you ?
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