Tag Archives: martial arts mats

The Best Martial Arts Mats For Your Gym

When it comes to buy mats for your gym sometimes all the options can make the decision confusing. Try to decide what the best martial arts mats for your gym is can be a real nail biter. Not to despair! We have some answer which might make your decisions that little bit easier.

Different Kinds of Martial Arts Mats

There are a few different kinds of mats available which you would classify as martial arts mats. It is true that training mats can be used for a variety of activities but if you are asking specifically about martial arts training there are a few which comply.

One of the most obvious choices is the jigsaw mat. Jigsaw mats are a mats which are made from EVA foam. They are a sturdy mat which is inexpensive and light weight. They generally come in two tone so that you can create boarders in your training area. Jigsaw mats are also light weight which makes them great if you want to be move them around.

Tatami Martial Arts Mats

If you are looking for something more premium then tatami mats might be more your style. Tatami mats have a traditional tatami finish which is reminiscent of their Japanese connection. They are made from durable vinyl covering compressed foam. The rubber bottom makes them a good choice as a non-slip mats.

MMA Mats A Good Choice

The other great option is MMA mats. They are just like the tatami mats except that they come with a smooth surface. This is especially attractive when there will be a lot of grappling involved in the training as it reduces “mats burn”. Either way both tatami and MMA mats are a good choice when you are thinking about the best martial arts mats.

That said if you have any questions feel free to contact Direct Mats. Our friendly and knowledgable staff are always happy to help.

Karate Mats versus Jiu-Jitsu Mats

In the world of fight there are a heaps of different martial arts and most of them are traditional. Some martial arts are modern like Krava Maga, the Israeli martial art, and Sambo from Russian, but the vast majority are traditional. In saying they are traditional martial arts I mean that they have historical significance which sometime includes ceremonial aspects. These traditional martial arts come from everywhere including Korea, China, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, France, Africa and so forth. Every tribe and people it would seem has a traditional form of fighting.

Two of the traditional martial arts from Japan are karate and jiu-jitsu. Both of the martial arts are traditional and both of the arts require some kind or training mats as part of their training. Jiu-jitsu requires jiu-jitsu mats and karate requires karate mats. Whilst both these arts are similar in that they are both from Japan and both require martial arts mats for training, this is where the similarities end. Whilst they might have these two things in common essential they are different which is reflected in the type of mats they use for training.

Karate means empty hand in Japanese. Essential karate is a form of unarmed combat. Saying that it does have some weapons but they main focus of the art is hand to hand fighting. The art uses kicks and punches to defeat an opponent. There are some throws involved but they a just rudimentary. Karate is thought of as a hard style due to the yelling and such but a good and seasoned fight is in tune with both his / her mind and body. The hazard in karate is in getting hit and falling to the ground which is why having karate mats is so important. Karate mats help reduce the impact with the ground therefor minimising impact.

Karate guys like these mats

In karate the kind of martial arts mats used is usually jigsaw mats. The jigsaw mats are made from EVA which is a closed cell mats. There are schools of karate that use traditional tatami mats. But you usually find them in places like Okinawa in very traditional schools. These day the karate mats being used tend to be jigsaw mats. Also karate mats tends be 20mm jigsaw mats or at the most 30mm jigsaw mats as they offer enough protect from falls but don’t inhibit stand up training. The 40mm jigsaw mats tend to be used by grappling arts that do most of their training on the floor.

This brings us to jiu-jitsu. Jiu-jitsu is also a traditional Japanese martial art. Jiu-jitsu, or jujutsu as it is also know, means “gentle art” in Japanese. This is because it endeavours to take a soft approach to self-defence and uses minimal strikes like punching and kicking. Jiu-jitsu, or jujutsu, mainly uses throws and submissions to subdue an opponents. The aim is to have the opponent to submit without getting hurt or causing injury to the victim of the attach, the jiu-jitsu practitioner. Even though it is referred to as the gentle art there is still a chance to get injured during training which is why jiu-jitsu mats or jujutsu mats are required for training.

The best thicknesses to use

As mentioned before the type of mats required my karate and jiu-jitsu are different. With jiu-jitsu there is an emphasis on throws just like in judo. The need to practice throws means that there is a need for jiu-jitsu mats to be able to offer more protection during training. For this reason jiu-jitsu mats are usually 40mm thick or more. Sometime 40mm jigsaw mats are used but more often they are tatami mats. Tatami mats have the traditional tatami finish. They come with an inner compressed foam and an outer vinyl cover. The thickness of the jiu-jitsu mat means that there is less opportunity for injury during training which is what makes them so good for this kind of training.

Karate Mats versus Jiu-Jitsu Mats

4 Reasons Why EVA Jigsaw Mats are Perfect for Martial Arts

Martial arts are among the most popular sports in the world. Being able to protect yourself in a dangerous situation is exactly what lures many people to martial arts. On top of that, they will teach you discipline and will make you more humble, which are qualities that everyone should strive to have. Which is what makes jigsaw mats perfect for martial arts

If your gym offers martial arts classes, then you’ll need appropriate gym mats in order to ensure the safety of the participants. Similarly, if you have a garage gym, it’s imperative that you find good mats to avoid any potential physical risks.

There are a few different types of gym mats available on the market today, but EVA jigsaw mats are most likely the best you’ll find. Here are some of the main advantages of EVA jigsaw mats.

Stability

In order to practice martial arts properly, you’ll need to have good support when upright. Otherwise, you will waste a lot of energy on trying to maintain control. EVA jigsaw mats are made with non-porous, closed-cell EVA foam, which makes them more rigid than other mats, thus providing more support.

Price

The cost of gym mats is extremely important to most people, since both owners of independent clubs and home users usually don’t always have a big budget. Even though both MMA mats and vinyl tatami mats are made using quality materials, they can be very pricey, thus making them unattainable for people who’re on a budget.

On the other hand, EVA jigsaw mats are quite affordable. They come in a variety of thicknesses, but people usually choose between 20mm and 40mm thick mats.

Different thickness for different martial arts

The 20mm floor mats are cheaper and they’re commonly used in upright forms of martial arts like kick boxing, taekwondo, and karate. On the other hand, the 40mm mats are better for floor-based martial arts like judo and wrestling. Before you decide to buy new mats, make sure to check exactly what thickness suits you best.

The fact that you’re able to choose exactly how thick you want your gym mats to be is yet another advantage of the EVA jigsaw mats. Vinyl tatami mats are usually found only in 40mm thickness, which means that you wouldn’t exactly be suitable for upright forms of martial arts.

They’re Portable

One of the best things about EVA jigsaw mats is how light they are. This will make it easier for you to transport them from one place to another. They’re easy to lift, so you will have no problem storing them wherever you choose to. On the other hand, if you go with vinyl mats, you will have difficulty moving them from place to place, since they’re made out of heavy materials.

Durability

When buying gym mats, you want a product that is going to remain in good condition for a long time. Thankfully, EVA jigsaw mats are made from ethylene vinyl acetate, which is an elastomeric polymer that is known for its durability and resilience.

Jigsaw Mats Perfect for Martial Arts

Jigsaw Mats For Your Martial Arts School

There are heaps and heaps of different martial arts out there. There are of course the traditional ones like karate, kung fu and judo. Then there are the more contemporary martial arts like Krav Maga and BJJ which have become more popular in the past few years. Whatever your martial art style one thing is for certain. Your need jigsaw mats in your training area.

Jigsaw mats are such a integral part of martial arts training that they are often referred to as martial art mats. People think of them as martial arts mats because they have often seen them in martial arts schools. They will also frequently be referred to as gymnastics mats because they can be found in gymnastic school and organisations that practice acrobatic activities

Whatever you call them jigsaw mats are a necessity for any martial arts school. Martial arts training is often vigorous and requires some protection from impact with the floor. Although jigsaw mats can not prevent you from any and all injuries they may be helpful in reducing the impact. Indeed martial arts mats are a necessity for every martial arts school. If you take your martial arts seriously and want your student to be protected then you need to consider jigsaw mats.

Our MMA Mats Are Not Zebra Mats

Direct Mats has a large range of training mats to choose from. These include EVA jigsaw mats, tatami mats and of course our MMA mats. Although the MMA mats are suitable for any activity where a heavy duty mat with a smooth surface is required, we generally call them MMA mats as they are very popular in mixed martial arts gyms. This is because MMA is mainly conducted in a no-gi environment so smooth mats are necessary to prevent what is commonly known as mat burn. You mats also know MMA mats as Zebra Mats.

We often get asked what other mats on the market our MMA mats would be comparable to. Some people assume that our MMA mats are Zebra Mat. Probably because Zebra Mats are synonymous with martial arts mats seeing they have been in the business so long and have a reputable reputation in the industry. The answer, of course, is that our mats are not Zebra Mats. While they look similar in photos in reality that are not. Zebra Mats is a trademark or Zebra Inc. Furthermore their mats are not manufactured in China to the best of our knowledge.

Low Cost But Great Quality

Our mats on the other hand are a low cost option which is manufactured in China. Our mats are a compressed foam wrapped in heavy duty vinyl and a rubber bottom. The mats are great for training both mixed martial arts as well as other activities that require a good quality mats. If you are looking for a less expensive mat for your training area or dojo then our mats might be a good option for you.

The mats are available in either black or grey. We can offer other colours on special order but longer lead-times, minimum order quantities and additional cost may apply. The mats are also 2m x 1m x 40mm. The size makes it easier to fit out a large area.

Direct Mats is a supplier of martial arts mats and other types of mats.