The best accessories for the modern-day warrior One of the most useful accessories in contact or combat arts is the ear protector.   You’ll find a lot of those who engage in combat contact sports, including BJJ, boxing and MMA, with a condition called cauliflower year, which is caused by a powerful strike to the ear. In the grappling arts, it is caused by repeated trauma while releasing your head from chokeholds.   Essentially, the skin of the ear is pulled away from the cartilage, and the cavity thus formed fills with blood – ultimately the blood calcifies, giving the ear its distinctive shape. Of course, this sort of injury is considered a badge of honor among many veteran fighters, but that is a matter of preference. The simple fact is that the cauliflower ear can interfere with hearing. It can easily be avoided by wearing ear protectors when on the mat or in the ring.   If you’re engaged in a grappling art, make sure that your ear protectors are streamlined so that your opponents cannot use them to strengthen their chokeholds. Knee guards Knee guards are also useful accessories, as a knee injury can prevent training for months, and a broken knee can stop you training permanently. Worst of all, such injuries have happened in both BJJ and MMA. Get yourself a pair of knee pads and use them with knee braces to train in safety.   Just make sure that you buy knee pads and braces that are made specifically for a grappling art, to ensure that they are streamlined and flexible, so that they will give no advantage to your opponent, and so that your own techniques and maneuvers will not be interfered with.   Knee pads are especially crucial for BJJ schools that do a lot of stand up grappling and associated takedowns. The right kind of tote bag Another necessary accessory is a bag for your gear. If you travel to your sessions light, a backpack will probably prove quite adequate. However, I feel that it’s nice to have an extra gi or pair of fight shorts in case of accidents, and it’s sometimes good to have an extra change of clothes so you can feel fresh after a training session. You’ll also need space for your guards, wraps and protectors, as well as for water. This is why I usually go with a duffel bag when it comes to carrying my gear to a training session.