Okay, so, I’ve been getting into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) lately. It’s pretty rough on the body, you know? And I’ve noticed my hair getting pulled out sometimes during rolls. It’s not fun. So I thought, maybe a rugby helmet could help protect my hair and scalp?
I went online and did some digging, didn’t find much specifically about rugby helmets for BJJ, but I did see some stuff about regular BJJ headgear. It’s mostly for protecting your ears from getting all messed up, like cauliflower ear. And apparently, in those official IBJJF competitions, you can’t wear any headgear with hard parts. Makes sense, I guess. You don’t want to accidentally hurt your training partner.
There were a couple of brands, like Roar and Cliff Kleen, that people recommended for BJJ ear guards. But they’re not really what I’m looking for. I’m more worried about my hair, not just my ears.
Then, I stumbled upon a discussion where someone asked about using a rugby helmet in BJJ. The responses were mixed. Some folks said it might be okay, maybe even softer on your teammates. But others pointed out that rugby helmets aren’t really designed for BJJ. They’re made to protect against impacts, not so much the pulling and tugging you get in grappling.
My Little Experiment
Anyway, I decided to give it a shot. I borrowed a rugby helmet from a friend who plays. I think that called “scrum cap”. First time I wore it to BJJ class, I got some weird looks, haha. But hey, I was committed to my experiment. It’s pretty comfy and fit snugly on my head.
- First roll: I immediately felt a difference. My hair wasn’t getting yanked out. That was a big plus! But the helmet did feel a bit bulky. It made it a little harder to move my head around, especially when someone had me in a tight spot.
- Second roll: I tried to adjust the helmet a bit, make it a little looser. That helped with the mobility, but then it started slipping a bit during the roll. Not ideal. I also noticed that it was getting pretty sweaty under there.
- Third roll: By now, I was starting to get the hang of it. I found a sweet spot where the helmet was snug enough to stay put but not so tight that I couldn’t move. But I did notice that it was kinda scratching up my training partner a bit. Oops.
So, What’s the Verdict?
After a few sessions, I’ve come to the conclusion that a rugby helmet is… okay, I guess. It definitely protected my hair, which was my main goal. No more painful pulling or losing clumps of hair. But, it’s not perfect. It’s bulky, it can slip around, it gets sweaty, and it might not be the most considerate thing for your training partners. Plus, I wouldn’t be able to wear it in a competition anyway.
I’m still on the fence about whether I’ll keep using it. Maybe I’ll try to find a BJJ-specific headgear that’s designed for grappling and also offers some hair protection. Or maybe I’ll just accept that some hair loss is part of the BJJ journey. We’ll see. It’s a bit of a trade-off, you know? Comfort and mobility versus protecting my precious locks. I just wanted to share my experience in case anyone else was thinking about trying this. It’s not a terrible idea, but it’s not a perfect solution either. That’s all I can say right now.
