Ask Sifu Z - Earholing

Dear Sifu Z.

I was watching UFC 80 and they mentioned that Jason Lambert likes to hit people in the ear hole. Is punching people in the ears a good idea? What happens when you punch someone in the ear?

Well grasshopper,

A very good question. What happens when you punch someone in the ear? Well first off, if, when you hit, the ear canal gets sealed off by your glove, you rupture the eardrum. This is bad for a few reasons. 1) you have a lot of pain, 2) you are now effectively deaf in that ear, 3) if sweat or water or other debris enters the middle ear you can get a middle ear infection which can progress all the way to meningitis which can be fatal, 4) if there was enough pressure from the blow, you may suffer a dislocation of your middle ear bones, which can only be repaired surgically, 5) you may suffer a round window rupture which is very, very bad, you will have some permanent hearing loss, or permanent dizziness or, if infection sets in possible death, and surgical repair is difficult at best.

So someone who intentionally aims for the earhole in a "sporting" contest is, in my opinion, a real jagoff!!! Since it is legal to hit there, this is one area that headgear can minimize the injury. So at least wear it in training.

Z