Judo Tatami Mats
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Judo tatami mats are one of the most popular type of sparring mats used worldwide today. If any of you have been involved in judo for quite some time, you will probably have executed your moves on a wide range of surfaces, from wrestling mats, to horsehair mats, to canvases covered with sawdust. Still, the genuine tatami variety cannot be beat; it is hands down the best surface on which you can indulge in this wonderful form of martial arts.
And hardly anyone will disagree if you state that the ones created and marketed by companies such as Zebra, Bridgestone, Gee and Swain are some of the top-notch judo mats you are likely to come across. The fact that they are used in a high-profile tournament like the Olympics bears testimony to their superior quality. Before we move on though…let’s take a look at the history of these types of mats. Basically, tatami are woven straw mats associated with Japanese culture, where they have been a prominent feature for more than hundreds of years.
The closely woven mats are generally used as a covering for the floor. The standard size of judo tatami mats is one by two meters (approximately three by six feet), although it is available in several different shapes and sizes in the market. (If you wish, you could also have it professionally customized to meet your exact specifications). This classic size is frequently used for room measurement purposes, just like square footage is utilized in various parts of the western world. Due to this reason, you may sometimes hear a room being described as ‘four and a half mats.’
A number of Japanese import businesses stock judo mats. Furthermore, they can be ordered directly from these stores, if you are so inclined. The early beginnings of these mats were pretty simple – rushes carefully strewn across the floor with a view to keeping them dry and comfortable. Eventually, as time passed by, the rushes were replaced with a densely woven variety, which contained an inner layer of stuffing that consisted of rice bran or straw. Presently, these mats are filled with a tough kind of synthetic material which has been designed to resist wear and tear. At first, judo tatami mats were exclusively sold to the posh, upper classes in Japan, since only they could afford to invest in them. In fact, a seat on the tatami, rather than a plain wooden floor, was considered a symbol of good social status.
Today though, they have become much more inexpensive and pretty much anyone can go out and purchase one. Interestingly enough, there are several fascinating traditions associated with the layout of the mats in an area. Amongst these are the rules that they should not be laid out in a grid pattern, and that three or more corners cannot meet. These actions are supposed to promote good fortune and health, and thus are followed in most homes in Japan that still use these mats. The straw variation can be found in traditionally styled rooms, together with modern furniture.
Judo Tatami Mats
Taking proper care of judo tatami mats is vitally important, as it can become damaged if not handled correctly. As a general guideline, the mats will needed to be taken out every three months so that they can be thoroughly beaten, aired and rotated. And if necessary, the old, worn-out ones can be replaced with brand new sets.
