How Do You Make A Judo Floor?

There are many reasons why judokas practice judo - from a form of competitive exercise to self-defense, and for some, as a way of life. As judokas learn to work with energy given to them by their opponent, they also work to master the art of throws, breaking balance, grappling, hold downs, forcing submission, and other important stability skills. The art of learning and practicing these skills promotes flexibility, strength, balance, and self-discipline, control, but also carries with it a risk of injury. For this reason, judo is practiced on mats or a system of mats that make up a judo floor.

A judo match or competition also takes place on a mat. The mat is a 14x14 meter competition area, with the actual match taking place in a smaller 8x8 meter ring to 10x10 meter ring in the center, known as the inner zone or contest area, with the surrounding space acting as a safety zone. If there are two competition areas side by side, there must be at least a 3-meter safety zone between the two.
Greatmats has mat options to make a 14x14 meter judo floor that can be configured for a competition-sized training space in your home or studio.

Make a Judo Floor with 1x1 Meter Foam Mats

One excellent option is Grappling MMA Mats. These 1x1 meter puzzle mats can easily be arranged to fit the dimensions of a competition area, and they deliver professional quality at a home studio price. With 196 reversible puzzle judo mats, you can easily create a 14x14 meter area with different colors marking the contest area and safety zone. To aid in the process, feel free to lay out the competition training space using Greatmats free online floor planner.

These waterproof mats are lead-free and latex-free, and they feature a tatami top texture which will not leave floor burn on the judoka’s skin. The interlocking tiles are reversible and removable, so they are very versatile and portable. They have a 4-foot ASTM fall height rating, making them an ideal training surface for preventing serious head injury and absorbing the shock of falls during practice and competition.

These judo mats are designed to be used with bare feet. Soft shoes can be used but may cause scuffing that will not affect the performance of the martial arts flooring. With frequent throws and grappling, judo mats must be able to stay in place to provide a safe and appropriate practice environment for athletes to master the art, and these puzzle mats will do just that.

Add Extra Cushioning to Your Judo Floor

If an extra cushion is desired for a judo floor created with the puzzle mats, a Foam Roll Subfloor could be added beneath. This type of foam underlayment is made of a cross-linked polyethylene sports foam material that provides excellent shock absorption for years.

These 42-foot foam rolls are made in the USA and are designed to provide superior rebound and protection. The foam carries a material hardness rating of 2.2 pounds per cubic foot, delivering the perfect level of support and protection for practicing combos involving a lift and throw or fall. This judo floor combination of grappling puzzle mats with foam roll subfloor also serves as a mock sprung floor.

An actual Sprung Floor is another excellent judo subfloor option to install underneath the grappling MMA mat system. Sprung floors provide an underlayment that could protect judokas from injuries and discomfort when learning various judo skills. For example, when a judoka throws his/her opponent to his/her back or side a certain level of risk for injury is incurred.

These skills are dangerous when performed improperly and pose a risk of injury while mastering them. By providing the sprung subfloor, judokas will be able to practice longer with less fatigue or chance of injury as they help absorb and disperse the impact delivered to the uke.

This Sprung Judo Floor features the perfect flexibility to absorb energy from a judoka’s impact combined with the right amount of resistance for footwork. Each panel is 42 x 42 inches and features WaveLock technology which eliminates any hard or soft spots on the floor. The panels fit together seamlessly and are easy to install with some light carpentry work and remain portable and removable while maintaining the floor value.

Greatmats – The Number 1 Choice by some of the world’s top martial arts facilities!
Greatmats’ variety of judo floor options and martial arts mats have been installed in hundreds of professional and home studio settings and provide the best in quality, service, and dependability. Greatmats offers many additional options that would work for your judo floor layout, most of which come with a 1-year limited warranty and are designed specifically with martial arts in mind. These high-quality mats meet strict design specs and have been a favorite for trainers and teachers, globally, for over a decade.

Feel free to reach out to the customer service team if you need suggestions, samples, or assistance in selecting the judo floor system that is right for your space. No matter which option you choose, you can be confident in the fact that you will be getting the best service and quality, and you can be confident in the longevity of your investment when you choose Greatmats.