Thoughts on mats

[Gerry Seymour]

Most puzzle mats are 1/2-3/4" thick. Big difference. These are specifically intended for grappling. If you're ever in Colorado, stop by and I'll toss you down on them so you can try them out.

I'll take you up on that some day, DD. I have some bits of family out in the Aurora area, and may eventually make it out there to visit them. I'd love to find that I like those mats as well as some of the others. They're easy to store, and you don't end up with the toe-eating gaps most other mats have.

 

[Gerry Seymour]

I've taken throws on harder surfaces, but honestly that is not something l enjoy. I bought some 2 inch wrestling mat for my home training, and it works great. Of all the mats I have tried, including the high-end Fuji and Zebra BJJ mats, good old fashioned wrestling mats are my favorite to train on.

What is the difference in feel between the Zebra mats you tried and the wrestling mats? Do you happen to know which Zebra mats they were? I've been on a few different Zebra mats, so it'd help me get a baseline.

 

[marques]

I do think it's useful to train throws on harder surfaces. It's a tricky thing to do with some throws, and requires good control by both uke and nage. For me, I like firmer mats for this reason.

Some techniques where not performed exactly as they should be, up to good control. I don’t think it is the solution, but it (training throwings in concrete) can be a rich experience, especially for the ones training for self defence more than for art or sport.

 

[Charlemagne]

What is the difference in feel between the Zebra mats you tried and the wrestling mats? Do you happen to know which Zebra mats they were? I've been on a few different Zebra mats, so it'd help me get a baseline.

The wrestling mats have more give. Plus, they come in a roll, so once they are taped together (or in some of them now, velcroed together) you don't have to worry about catching your toes in between the mats. The Zebra mats, along with the Fuji, etc. come in squares that are pushed up against one another. Even if they are tight, there is a chance that you can catch your toes in the gap.

I got my wrestling mats from McBryde Mats, and I have been pretty happy with them. They are one of the few companies I found that had 2 inch wrestling mats, and I wanted the extra thickness for taking falls.

 

[Gerry Seymour]

The wrestling mats have more give. Plus, they come in a roll, so once they are taped together (or in some of them now, velcroed together) you don't have to worry about catching your toes in between the mats. The Zebra mats, along with the Fuji, etc. come in squares that are pushed up against one another. Even if they are tight, there is a chance that you can catch your toes in the gap.

I got my wrestling mats from McBryde Mats, and I have been pretty happy with them. They are one of the few companies I found that had 2 inch wrestling mats, and I wanted the extra thickness for taking falls.

I've found some mats that roll out (Dolamur and a couple of others have them) that are the same feel as the tatami-style mats. I definitely prefer the roll-out mats, both for leave-down application (taped in place) and temporary use (we just use velcro straps to hold them together, as the ones we use are carpet-topped). I go back and forth on using mats with more give. For grappling-only use, I do prefer it. Once we add in sparring, kicking, etc., I prefer the firmer mats.

I remember looking into McBryde some time ago. They looked like good mats, and have both MA and wrestling versions, IIRC. They might have been the first ones I saw with the big roll-out mats.

 

[Hanshi]

Back when I opened my own dojo I put in a spring floor with a vinyl covered foam top. It is still in use in my old school - I sold my half of it to my partner who runs it now. But I have taken falls on about every surface there is, from tatami to a carpet over concrete. Since I taught judo, aikido and jujitsu, I emphasized falling techniques and spent a great deal of time drilling my students. I don't like the folding mats having broken an ankle on one many years ago. Nor do I care for carpet that much. Tatami is great as is a decent spring floor and some of the better foam mats. Being much older and with ra, I can not take any kind of fall though I still know how to. I have spent, as well as my students, much time throwing and falling outside on grass lawns; and that actually works out quite well. I also agree that mat burns and bruises are much preferable to injuries from lousy mats.

 

[Charlemagne]

I also agree that mat burns and bruises are much preferable to injuries from lousy mats.

Absolutely. Thankfully, if you get the right mats, you can avoid mat burns for the most part as well. That's another one of the things I did not like about the Fuji mats. I haven't had a single mat burn on my wrestling mat, but I had plenty when I trained at a school that used Fuji.

 

[JR 137]

I always like to say I trained Judo throws on wood floor or even concrete for long time. It required more control (and not full speed throw) and made us aware of out-of-dojo floors. It was a bit hardcore, I recognise.

Once, on a seminar someone was put matts on the floor. When the instructor arrived, required to remove everything before starting.

Sorry for not really helping about matts.

One of the universities I worked at has a Judo team. At least once every semester, the teacher takes the group outside and has them roll. Beginners stay on the grass, everyone else starts on the grass then goes over to the parking lot.

He was a great guy. The first time I saw him doing that I had no idea what was going on. He told me he ran the Judo club and said “How often are these guys going to get attacked in the dojo? If they can’t do it a few times outside the dojo, what’s the point?” He instantly earned my respect.

 

[Gerry Seymour]

Back when I opened my own dojo I put in a spring floor with a vinyl covered foam top. It is still in use in my old school - I sold my half of it to my partner who runs it now. But I have taken falls on about every surface there is, from tatami to a carpet over concrete. Since I taught judo, aikido and jujitsu, I emphasized falling techniques and spent a great deal of time drilling my students. I don't like the folding mats having broken an ankle on one many years ago. Nor do I care for carpet that much. Tatami is great as is a decent spring floor and some of the better foam mats. Being much older and with ra, I can not take any kind of fall though I still know how to. I have spent, as well as my students, much time throwing and falling outside on grass lawns; and that actually works out quite well. I also agree that mat burns and bruises are much preferable to injuries from lousy mats.

I had a chance to play on a sprung floor once. It was pretty nice even without mats (though easy to get bruised). With some firm mats to go on top, it would have been been heavenly.

 

[Gerry Seymour]

Absolutely. Thankfully, if you get the right mats, you can avoid mat burns for the most part as well. That's another one of the things I did not like about the Fuji mats. I haven't had a single mat burn on my wrestling mat, but I had plenty when I trained at a school that used Fuji.

The tatami-surface (I'm assuming that's what the Fuji mats you're referring to had) gives better traction when sweaty, but will deliver amazing mat burns. I actually changed contact points on one of my sacrifice techniques when my instructor switched to tatami-surface mats.

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

I have always loved Swain and Zebra mats. I feel that they are the best with wrestling mats coming in next followed by puzzle mats. Grass is a great natural mat if you are training outdoors. Love training on grass.

 

[Gerry Seymour]

I have always loved Swain and Zebra mats. I feel that they are the best with wrestling mats coming in next followed by puzzle mats. Grass is a great natural mat if you are training outdoors. Love training on grass.

I love grass on the right ground. There's an area in the city I grew up in where the grass and ground make a good (if firm) natural mat for training even reasonably high falls. In my current front yard, it's too soft (falls would be nice, but we'd all have ankle and knee issues). At my previous house, the ground, even under grass, was as hard as a hotel room floor.

 

[donald1]

IMO, when you do throws on concrete long enough you eventually learn to appreciate mats...

 

[Gerry Seymour]

IMO, when you do throws on concrete long enough you eventually learn to appreciate mats...

That usually happens after the first throw. Actually, usually just before it.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I have always loved Swain and Zebra mats. I feel that they are the best with wrestling mats coming in next followed by puzzle mats. Grass is a great natural mat if you are training outdoors. Love training on grass.

I would love to have some traditional wrestling mats. We just don't have any place to store them. Since we're at the Y, we can't leave stuff out between classes. So for us, the (extra thick) puzzle mats are the best compromise.