mats

[shakra]

I am considering purchising some mats for my spare room so that i may practice ukemi and have a better place to stretch and possibley practice aikido with a friend who is also a aikido particinor.
I was looking at jigsaw mats wich are 1 meter by 1 meter and 20mm depth are these mats suitable. the other option avaliabale is these mats here
mats (http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0723002.htm)

wich are simalire mesurments but no designed for my purpose although since they are cheaper I can buy double the required amount and create two layers therfore increassing depth to 40mm
So what do you guys think are any of these mats decent or suited to the purpose


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Shakra

[kakuma]

I actually use these types of mats for my dojo. The training area is about 1000 sq ft. or approximately 455 sq. meters.

They seem to work great for us and we do a lot of ukemi and hardcore throws. No injuries to date. For a rather cost effective solution it should work great and even better if you double up on them.

Students claim that it is even better than a plush carpeted floor which is what we were working with in our makeshift dojo prior.

Goodluck,

[shakra]

can I ask if you use the martial art jigsaw mats or the reboek floor protectors?
thanks

[kakuma]

We currently use the jisaw puzzle mats. They are the reversible kind. So the opposite side is equivilant to that of the floor protector mats.

[Brian Owens]

The EVA floor protectors, even if double-layered, would not be a good surface for ukemi in my opinion.

They are very firm, and are designed to proved a non-slip surface for walking and standing, and to protect floors from damage from heavy equipment.

They are typically about the consistency of hard rubber.

Look here for martial arts jigsaw mats. The 40mm thick ones have a Buy It Now price of 19.99 Pounds (only 5 Pounds more than the floor protectors), and the 20mm ones are only 12.00 Pounds -- two Pounds less than the floor protectors.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Icon-Martial-Arts_Mats_W0QQcolZ2QQdirZQ2d1QQftidZ2QQtZkm

HTH.

[Brian Owens]

One dojo at which I was a guest had Swain mats -- the tatami-shaped ones used, I believe, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics for the Judo competitions.

Very nice feel. I also liked that they were shaped and textured like traditional tatami. They're quite expensive, at over $100 each (although they're the size of two of the jigsaw mats), but if I could afford them that's what I'd put in my own dojo.

[Aaron T]

Swain or Zebra mats would be the best choice. Zebra often has mats which have been used for a tournament for a discounted price and they are as good as new.


Aaron Fields
www.seattle-jujutsu.org

[kenkyusha]

A teacher of mine has Zebra mats @his dojo (directly on concrete, no less) and they are wonderful to fall on. If we ever move to a space that doesn't have a leaky roof, we'll have to bite the bullet and get some o' them things.

Be well,
Jigme