There are a lot of things to consider when choosing the best Jiu-Jitsu mats for home or academy. The type of surface, size, thickness, and price are all important factors to think about. In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of surfaces available and what might be the best option for you. We will also go over the pros and cons of each type of mat and give you some tips on how to choose the right one for your needs. So, whether you are looking to buy home mats or replace old ones at your academy, read on for some helpful advice! So, be wise when you go about choosing home BJJ mats or mats for MMA, wrestling, or any other kind of martial art. Here are our 5 cents on the subject.
The Best Jiu-Jitsu Mats for Home
Now that you know what you should be looking for let’s see what’s best for home gym flooring, exercise equipment flooring, or mats for the garage gym. When you’re looking for BJJ mats, you’ll end up choosing one of three types. You have more than usual puzzle mats that fit into each other.
Next, you have the rollout mats, which are becoming more popular. Finally, folding mats are a great choice as well. These last ones are similar to the style of Judo mats, only linked together instead of each being separate.
When it comes to choosing the type of mats or just, it’s down to your desires and your home gym requirements. You’ll look for some soft foam with a vinyl mat cover, and probably some wall panels if you’re really into sparring at home and “being wild”.
While we in Jiu-Jitsu don’t need a gymnastics mat it all comes down to a preference for what you’re going to do with it. if you’re going to practice gymnastics for Jiu-.Jitsu with some hard throws and takedowns then gymnastic mats might also be your choice. But in this article, we won’t put a gymnastic mat or tumbling mat on our list because most people training in Jiu-Jitsu won’t need it.
When it comes to mat manufacturers, though, not all mats are equal. You want to choose the best BJJ mats for your “gym carpet”. To that extent, the following brands have proven to be superior to all others in every way possible:
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Features:
- 5’x10′ (152.4 cm x 304.8 cm) 4.64 Square meters of mat
- 1.25″ (3,84 cm) thick
- Tatami Textured Surface
- Lightweight
- Made in the USA
These are all the jazz lately. While Dollamur mats can’t match FUJI for gyms because they’re made for transport and home for easy installation these roll-out mats are slowly but surely taking over from puzzle mats. Just as the puzzle tatami mat did from the old school Judo ones which never really fit together tightly. Once again, like with the folding ones, these mats are perfect for both temporary and permanent use.
These mats are compact once they’re rolled up and are extremely easy to set up. It makes deep cleaning of the academy easy, as you can reach beneath the mat surface whenever you want to. For a more permanent solution, you get rollout mats, roll them out, and stick them together with mat tape.
These Dollamur mats that come in rollout form are 1.25” thick which makes them perfect for BJJ. As a bonus, they’re light and require no strength to set up. They also boast state of an art antimicrobial surface that guarantees germ-free training. Because of its easy folding, it’s considered the best workout flooring for the garage.
Dollamur” FLEXI-Roll Rollout Mats
- Lightweight
- Stores easily
- Lasts long
FUJI home rollout mats
The reputation of Fuji mats is well-known and when you see them in any gym you know that the gym takes their martial arts training seriously.
They are made from a high surface energy polyurethane foam that absorbs shocks and impacts exceptionally well. The closed-cell structure of the foam means that Fuji mats do not absorb moisture or sweat making them suitable for use in all environments.
Each roll-out mat measures 5 feet by 10 feet. Two mats glued together will give you a nice 10-foot x 10-foot training area. They’re ideal for grappling but might be a bit thin for high amplitude takedowns and throws if you’re not going for 5cm thickness. Check on Fujimats website.
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First of all, folding mats – what are the advantages? Well, to be frank, the name says it all. You walk in, unfold the mats and you’re good to go. OK, it does take a tiny bit more effort than that but it’s as easy as it gets. Folding mats are easy to use in different locations, easy to transport, and even easy to keep to one side of the wall if someone else is using the space apart from your home BJJ training.
Prosourcefit mats are made from durable, non-abrasive modern material. They have a very smooth surface made from vinyl tarp and do not retain odors. Furthermore, if you need them for portability, they have a built-in handle once you fold them. They’re a very good choice for your home if you like thick, hard, and smooth surface mats, regardless of whether you plan to move them. Not really expensive either.
ProsourceFit Tri-Fold Folding Mat
- Thick Cushion
- Firm
- Price
- Smooth
- Might be too hard for some people
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“We Sell Mats” are among the best sellers when it comes to puzzle mats for grappling martial arts. In terms of our best Jiu-Jitsu mats guide, these provide the most variety in terms of color and size. Plus, they’re available at a cut price for a limited time only, so you better hurry up stocking up on them!
The material of the ‘We Sell Mats” is a special high-density EVA foam offering extra padding at 3/4″ thickness. The measurements are the “standard” 24″ x 24″ with a ribbed surface texture offering extra traction. The mats are ultra-durable and sturdy, somewhat thanks to the innovative interlocking technology.
These mats fit seamlessly together to ensure training experience and minimize the risk of injuries due to cracks. Plus, there’s a special anti-fatigue cushioning support that makes training a pleasant experience. Extremely easy to set up and clean, these mats come in 10 different colors, from black, light gray, and pink to full white and yellow mats, you certainly have a lot of choices here.
We Sell Mats - Interlocking
- Very Durable
- Sturdy
- Smooth
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Despite the rise of rollout mats and the ease of use of folding mats, puzzle mats still rule the scene. For now, at least. In that sense, these types of mats come n a variety of shapes, sizes, and brands. This is where you need to pay attention. As far as brands go, stick in IncStores and you won’t regret it. In all honesty, they make a mean rollout mat as well.
The IncStroes puzzle mats, though, are their number one product. The material is a special foam and a rubber polymer that fit together much like a jigsaw puzzle. The dimension of one tile is 3×3 ft and the thickness is an inch. With tile mats, you get no overlap, no gaps and you can customize them to any space you might have. However, setting them up takes quite a bit of time, especially on your first try. These are your best solution if you’re the goal is a permanent setup.
A huge advantage of these mats is that you can buy them with beveled edges so that the ends have no jigsaw pieces. Also, they come in reversible colors, and reversible different colored sides so you can combine them at will. IncStores makes them gray and black and the more usual, red and blue.
IncStores Interlocking Puzzle Mats
- Cushion
- Texture
- Easy to clean
- Slippery, but it wears off after good cleaning
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The Z-Athletic Martial Arts Panel Mats are multifunctional folding mats that are very easy to set up. In terms of comfort, these might just be the best Jiu-Jitsu mats out there. They’re extra soft and yet provide a very safe and unslippable surface to train on. The company has been producing mats for well over 20 years now and takes pride in delivering nothing but ht highest quality product.
The mats are available in four different colors: black, blue, pink, and purple. They are completely expandable and have a hook and loop closure system on all four sides to connect between themselves. In terms of dimensions, the mats are two inches thick and are 4ft x 8ft x 2” when unfolded. The material is high-density, cross-linked polyethylene foam. Furthermore, it is covered in high-quality 18 oz vinyl for further protection and comfort. The materials are completely lead-free and meet all CPSIA standards. These mats also come with a two-year full money-back warranty.
Z-Athletic Folding Panel Mats
- Cushion
- Thickness
- Lightweight
- Hard at the start, but gets great over time
- Not as stable as it should be
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Innhomm was a Greatmats company that worked specifically with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu mats but changed its name to Innhom. Before they focused entirely on the needs of people that train BJJ, and as such offer all kinds of mat types. They have the “mandatory” puzzle mats, roll-out mats, and folding mats. Greatmats even make the traditional Judo-style mats, only without the straw.
They’re made of EVA foam with a specific surface texture added later. They’re also thicker than usual at 1 5/8″ but are quite compact. As such they offer a great surface both for training throws and for rolling.
In terms of their folding mats, the cool thing is that they can serve a double purpose. You can traditionally use them, to cover the ground or using them as wall padding. In that sense, they feature hook and loop connectors to make installation easier.
Innhom 12/24/48 Tiles
- Not Smooth
- Inconsistent texture
- Chemical smell that goes away after some time
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The Get Rung puzzle mats are a great and highly reliable option for pretty much everyone. These 1-inch (25 mm) mats come in an interlocking puzzle format, meaning you can cover a large floor with them. In fact, they’re specially designed for practicing martial arts. With that in mind, they do come in the two most standard puzzle mat color varieties – blue and red.
The dimensions on the Get Rung mats are 40″ x 40″ x 1″‘. To make it a bit easier, you need 9 of these to cover 100 square feet. To that extent you can buy them in relation to the space you have, ranging from 100 to 500 square feet, so you do not have to do the math. The material is easy to clean, highly durable, and completely waterproof. What is more important, these mats have outstanding shock-absorbing qualities and are also very lightweight. Moreover, they’re easy to assemble and have some of the highest safety ratings around. The Perfect exercise mats for any occasion.
Get Rung Martial Art Puzzle Mats
- Made for martial arts
- Large Sized
- Cushion
Jiu Jitsu, Grappling, and BJJ Mats in general
In our quest to learn as much as we can about mats in martial arts like BJJ, MMA, Judo, Sambo, and other martial arts, we must first look way back. In fact, we’ll go as far back as the early days of Judo in Japan. While people back then used to train on hard wooden floors they soon figured out it was not worth it. Working with what they had, the Japanese came up with the first martial arts mats. The first mats were just rectangles filled with straw. they offered both a soft surface and one that did not interfere with grappling itself.
Today’s modern mats are no longer filled with straw. In the interest of practicality, there are modern materials that offer a much better training environment. Namely, today’s mats are made out of a rubber-like polymer that makes them have that specific rubbery yet still foamy feel to them. They offer both hardness and softness and can absorb much more force than the original “tatami mat” of old. Furthermore, today’s mats are laid out in layers of material, making them much more durable.
Quick facts to know when buying home mats
- Your training space usually determines the type of mat you plan to buy
- Easy storage mats like rolling mats are great if you need training space for other things
- The mats come in different thicknesses which is important depending on your training style
- Thicker mats are usually better but more expensive
- Think about the cushion needed for impact absorption
- The thickness of the mat may depend on whether you’ll put it on concrete or wood floors
- Non-absorbent mats are the best
- Training bare feet or in wrestling shoes is not the same when choosing the cover material
- Completely non-slip cover material is usually not good for a home BJJ mat
- BJJ mats come in many colors so you can choose from blue, pink, or even yellow if that’s your preference.
- Price usually varies depending on the quantity of your order
- jiujitsu mats for home use come in many colors so you can choose from blue, white, red, pink, yellow, and green. etc.
- Evaluate the materials used to make up the mats as well as their design before deciding which one to buy.
Main Features to look for when buying Home Jiu-Jitsu Mats
- Thickness
- Smoothness
- Material
Thickness
Mats come in different thicknesses. The most common one is 3/4 inch to 1 inch thick. Some pro fighters out there still opt for a 1/2-inch mat. The reason is that a thinner mat will force them to strengthen their core muscles harder since their body will always be on the border of slipping off the mat. If you are not an experienced grappler yet, get a thicker mat. It will give you more safety, especially when rolling with heavyweights.
4cm is pretty standard today. The reason there’s a great spread in the thickness of mats is that people have different preferences. Some prefer a softer mat, while others would rather have one with more give to it. There’s a simple way to test a mat’s softness. Just sit on it and see how you feel. If it gets uncomfortable, chances are it’s too hard for you.
Smoothness
The smoothness is something you shouldn’t ignore when buying a mat for BJJ or any other grappling martial arts training. However, this is a very important aspect of mats. Good BJJ mats have a pretty smooth surface. Today, many have a very coarse surface. Some feel that this is a good thing since it will help the fighters with their grip and takedowns. Others claim that it can cause injuries. If you go to a high-level academy, chances are they will have smooth ones and not coarse ones. Coarse mats types of mats may be too rough for training at home, especially if you have to roll daily with other people. The rough texture can cause skin irritation and abrasions.
Material
Material is where the rubber-like material of mats comes in. Back when Jiu-Jitsu first came out, mats for it were made out of… you guessed it, rubber. There are several benefits to this type of material to make it a durable mat. For one, it makes the mat very resistant to wear and tear. Furthermore, the material is important to handle and absorb a lot of impact and rubbing. Of course, there are other materials to look for depending on your training style and time.
Jiu-Jitsu mat types
The most common types of Jiu-Jitsu mats for home usage are Puzzle mats Smooth mats and mats with a vinyl tarp cover. We’ll get into each separately so you can understand the difference better.
Puzzle, Tatami Mats
As mentioned, martial arts mats come in different shapes and sizes as well as compositions. They’re called that because they can be moved around into different configurations depending on what pieces fit together. These Jiu-Jitsu mats for home use offer a lot of versatility and can be used to cover a large area of ground. They don’t offer a wall to wall coverage but they can be configured in a sort of maze, which is great if you have storage space or doorways you want to cover up.
As the name implies, these mats by our definition come in jigsaw shapes that fit together like pieces of a puzzle. That’s not exactly the case with the design we mentioned above. They’re made out of smaller tiles that can be easily interlocked with each other to cover up any possible space you might have in mind. They come unassembled, but don’t let that fool you into thinking they’re hard to put together.
They can however get expensive depending on how big your matting needs are. There are different types of these mats out there, made with different materials. Each offers its own kind of benefits and drawbacks. Rubber puzzle mats are the most common by far, but others exist that you might want to take a look at if you’re trying to get the best Jiu-Jitsu mat for your buck. The most common rubber mats are made from PVC and EVA foam, which is what we’ll be looking at in more depth now.
The first thing that draws people to those types of BJJ mats for home is the price as they can be very cheap and very pricey too. You can find them from 1cm to 5cm thick and the price depends on their thickness.
Once you know what you’re looking for and how much you want to spend it’s not too hard to find one that suits your needs.
Smooth Mats
As you can tell from its name, this type of mat has a smooth surface that does not restrict movement. On the contrary, it allows for easier sliding when being trained in Jiu-Jitsu throws and submissions. Such a mat is great for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training since it allows for takedowns and throws without getting caught up on any weird motifs on the surface. While these mats are great because it allows for a great grip on your feet, somehow it’s great for guard players too because it allows them to play guard easily with the mat not slowing them down.
The downside of these mats is that they tend to wear out more quickly than other types. They can’t be interlocked so if any damage happens to one piece of the matting, there’s nothing you can do to fix it. This might not be a problem if you’re using the smooth mat in a smaller area, but if you’re trying to cover up a lot of ground with them, it’s going to be much more costly in the long run.
U can find them in many forms. They’re usually 3-5cm thick with 1×1 and 1x2m tiles.
Smooth Mats are always used in all popular Grappling, Wrestling, and Jiu-Jitsu tournaments like ADCC, UWW, IBJJF, etc.
Vinyl tarp
Vinyl tarp tatami or canvas surfaces provide extra grip when training barefoot, but they are also notorious for causing mat burns. This kind of mat is usually used in wrestling gyms.
Mats Quality
In most jiu-jitsu mats, the foam is usually made from EVA foam because it holds up well against wear and tears well as is environmentally friendly. In addition, these mats tend to be highly elastic which means they’ll bounce back into shape after a throw. Rubber can be mixed with EVA to make grappling mats last longer but it also makes it more expensive.
Smooth mats are usually covered with polyurethane foam and filled with a type of closed-cell foam tiles which makes the flooring extremely light. This also allows them to offer maximum shock absorption.
You can find these mats in a lot of grappling competitions, martial arts academies, and BJJ gyms.
In terms of qualities to look for in BJJ mats, a few standout. First and foremost, you need to be aware of the material inside the mats. Of course, the more eco-friendly and affordable it is, the better. Next, you need to inquire about thickness. Thicker does not necessarily translate to better for BJJ training. As a rule of thumb go thicker than Karate mats, but not as thick as Judo mats. The surface also plays an important factor as you should avoid too slippery or very rough surfaces. After all, our faces end up all over the mats regularly.
Of course, easy maintenance and long-term durability are also important aspects to consider.
Puzzle Mats vs. Smooth Mats
In my personal opinion, I would always take smooth mats over tatami puzzle textured mats for BJJ. They make it harder for people to grip onto which can be a problem when you’re trying to hold someone down or pass someone’s guard for example.
As I’m a guard player I just can’t be happier than being on a smooth mat where I won’t be stacked as often as I would be on puzzle (jigsaw) mats blocking my movement. It’s much easier to move on your back without forcing a shoulder walk in every stack pressure situation. I’ve noticed that on “puzzles” no matter how hard I arch my back and put weight on my hips without hard shoulder walking I’ll usually end up stacked on my neck and it’s frustrating.
Another fact that goes in favor of a smooth mat is that all serious tournaments use them. So, if you’re training on smooth mats you’ll perform better on tournaments as you’re already used to them.
But, there’s also a downside to smooth mats is that if you’re drilling a lot of throws and takedowns they tend to become pretty slippery when there’s a lot of sweat on them. The puzzle ones get slippery too with sweat on it but not as much as the smooth ones get.
Mat burns
In my long grappling career in Wrestling and BJJ, I’ve noticed one important thing about mat burns.
No matter the mat you’re training on you’ll have mat burns and it just depends on what type of mat you’re used to.
After years of training on puzzle mats without getting any mat burns except in the first few training sessions, I switched to smooth mats and got burns again for the first few training sessions. The same thing goes for vinyl tarp surfaces.
In general, your skin just needs to get used to the new type of mat you’re rolling on.
An Important Note On Mat Hygiene
Finally, whichever mats you decide to use, you need to look after them. If you do not take care of the mats they’ll be unusable very soon. Even worse, they might become a breeding ground for fungi or bacteria which will empty an academy faster than you tap into an armbar. Yes, that involves cleaning them regularly. No matter the brand or mat type, no mats are going to last you a lifetime. To get the most out of the mats, you need to know how to take care of them.
Regular vacuuming is a given, there’s probably no need to even mention it. However, this is not the full extent of mat hygiene. Even with mats that have built-in antimicrobial surfaces, you need an extra wash to remove any potential germs. As such, a dilution of one part bleach to ten parts water can do the trick. So can a lot of commercial products. Just watch out for abrasive ones, as they can easily damage the mats. Spray them up and then wipe it all thoroughly. That way you’ll get years more out of your mats.
How to clean mats properly
- Wet-vacuum first. Using a wet-vacuum cleaner with its suction power reduced by about half, vacuum the mats again to remove any loose dirt, dust, and skin cells that may still be lying on the surface of the mats.
- Wipe the mats with a mild detergent and rinse them with water – do not use harsh chemicals or abrasive materials to clean your mats as they will damage the fabric.
- Use fresh water to rinse off any residue from the diluted bleach or cleaning solution. Once again, use an old bucket dedicated to rinsing off mats only.
- Hang mats over a railing or open window, if possible (away from any electrical outlets) to let them air-dry. It’s important that they’re completely dry before they are rolled up for storage. The best time to do it is after training, or you can get in early one day and lay them out to dry. If the mats are not completely dry, mold and germs can grow inside them as they’re rolled up for storage.
FAQ:
How thick should Jiu-Jitsu mats be?
If you’re training with a lot of throws and takedowns the thicker the better. 4cm thickness is usually the best choice for all kinds of BJJ training.
What mats are used for Jiu-Jitsu?
Puzzle and smooth are the most commonly used mats in BJJ gyms. Smooth ones are considered premium.
What size are Jiu-Jitsu mats?
1m x 1m, and 1m x 2m are the most common single mat sizes.
How long do Fuji mats last?
If you take proper care of them they can last for a long period. After 4 to 5 years people notice some bruises, but it doesn’t mean they can’t last more. It just means they won’t be as beautiful as they were before.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best Jiu-Jitsu mats for your academy or home shouldn’t be a hustle. That is why our best home mats guide is here to help you with your choices. All of the mats above are tried and tested in grappling environments, and they’ve all passed with flying colors. Moreover, keep an eye out as we constantly update our guide whenever great new options emerge!
