Comparing Grappling Mat Materials and Surfaces

Grappling is a form of hand-to-hand combat that includes wrestling, judu, jiujitsu, BJJ, etc. Groundwork and throws are the main skills that comprise grappling skills. As this is the case, traction and shock absorption are important characteristics of proper grappling flooring. Here we will outline some of the most popular materials and construction techniques to provide you with a home training surface with which you will be happy.

wrestling mats

Core Material

When in the process of choosing grappling mats, the core material is the most important consideration as it's important to have flooring that provides the perfect combination of cushion, shock absorption, stability, and firmness.

The most common commercial core materials are polyvinyl chloride (PVC) nitrile foam, cross-linked polyethylene (PE) foam or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, all of which are closed cell foams which are durable will not absorb water. While these foams are more expensive than open-cell foams like carpet padding, they have a longer lifespan and will not absorb moisture that can lead to mold and mildew. There are, however, high end grappling mats that use polyurethane foam, which is a open cell foam known for providing some of the best cushion available. This style of foam, must be contained by a durable cover material.

For areas where there will be a lot of throwing, thicker mats will provide the needed shock absorbtion that thinner mats won’t be able to provide. Some grappling mats, such as Greatmats Grappling MMA Mats 1-5/8 Inch, are even tested for fall heights and will give you an American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) fall height rating.

wrestling mat material

PVC nitrile foams are the traditional material used for competition wrestling mats. They are the most durable and heaviest option, and will also be the most expensive. This material is flexible enough to be double sided and still roll up for storage.

Cross-linked PE foam is a newer, less expensive and lightweight alternative to the PVC nitrile foams. This foam is firm in nature and introduces some bounce as well as shock absorption to the mat. PE foam is perfect for home grappling use. It is usually one-sided and scored on the back which allows it to be rolled up.

EVA foam is the least expensive option, providing most of the same benefits of the other materials without some of the cosmetic durability. It does not lose any of its functionally through extended use, there will just be visible wear and tear. These mats usually come in puzzle mat form (interlocking tiles) and can be double sided.

folding grappling mat

Surface texture and material

The surface of the grappling flooring in a space can make a big impact on the comfort and safety of athletes who are training. Grappling mats can have foam wrapped or bonded to vinyl or canvas. They can also, in the case of EVA foam mats, have the surface texture molded into the same material as the core. Smooth and tatami are the most common textures.

Smooth surfaced mats lend well to use with shoes, but can become slippery when training barefoot.

Due to their smooth nature, they are also less likely to cause burns on your skin than more textured surfaces.

Vinyl tatami or canvas surfaces provide extra grip when training barefoot, and are very durable, but are well known for causing mat burns.

EVA mats with tatami texture molded into the surface, provide the grip needed for barefoot grappling training without the risk of mat burns. EVA mats will scuff over time but it will not be detrimental to the performance of the mat.

Mat size and repair

Grappling mat material & surface

The larger the mat you get, the fewer seams you will have to deal with. Almost all wrestling and grappling mats offer a one year warranty.

Your PVC nitrile based mats usually come in the largest rolls (5+ feet wide and varying lengths), but can be cumbersome to install - especially in a home environment or by a single person. The factory can recondition or resurface the mats is they become damaged.

Cross-linked PE foam mats are often significantly smaller and more lightweight rolls (in the 5x10 foot range). They are lightweight and easy to install by a single person. A benefit of these mats is that they are lightweight and be installed by one person. It’s typical for multiple mat rolls to need to be taped together. Should they become damaged, cross-linked polyethylene foam grappling mats can be repaired with a patch, but can not be reconditioned or resurfaced.

EVA puzzle mats usually come in square tiles 2-4 feet in diameter that can connect together in any direct to achieve the desired floor coverage. While these mats cannot be repaired, they are typically double sided allowing for them to flipped if one side becomes damaged. Puzzle tiles are also easily replaced in as small as 4 square foot sections without the need for tearing up the entire grappling floor.

grappling mat

Generally vinyl-wrapped PU foam mats come in a 1x2 meter (~3.3x6.6 feet) size. The durable vinyl is extremely resistant to damage and can be patched if needed. The outer vinyl is extremely durable and we resistant, and can even be patched if needed. These mats usually cannot be connected together but their weight, combined with grippy non-slip underside do a good job of keeping mats in place and allow for multiple mats to be butted up next to each other to expand your grappling area.

Folding mats with a PE core and vinyl cover are available in a large array of sizes, generally from 4 to 6 feet wide and 8 to 12 feet long. When these mats are used for grappling purposes, it’ll be important to find folding mats with hook and loop connectors. This is because the connectors will help ensure all the mats remain help tightly together.

There is a lot to consider when shopping for grappling mats, but if you keep the above factors in mind, you are sure to find grappling mats that will fit you budgetary, space and performance needs.

Comparing Rubber Gym Flooring - Rolls, Mats, Interlocking Tiles

Rubber has been chosen as the preferred flooring material for commercial gym and home weight room flooring for decades. Because it's such a popular flooring option, there are a wide range of sizes, thickness, designs, and densities. Read on below to learn about the differences between the rubber flooring option.

rubber floor mat roll

Gym Traffic

The first consideration to make when choosing gym flooring is to think about the amount of traffic and abuse the floor will need to withstand. If you have a weight training facility used for competitive college or pro athletic teams, bodybuilding and powerlifting, it will need to be thicker and much more durable that those used in most home gyms or senior centers.

Rubber has built a reputation for protecting the subfloor through impact absorption, reducing vibration and cutting noise from machines and free weights. It is capable handling heavy exercise equipment and foot traffic. Rubber flooring is a popular choice because its very durable, simple to clean, and is often times made from recycled rubber. It can also be recycled at the end of its life.

gym floor mat

Rolled Rubber

The thickness of rubber flooring is going to have the most noticeable impact on the overall durability of the flooring installation. A 1/4- to 3/8-inch rubber floor will suffice for light to moderate use while heavily-used areas will require a thicker rubber surface match that lifespan. In areas where weights will be dropped, 1/2- to 1 1/2-inch rubber flooring is better equipped to handle the impact without damaging the subfloor. While most thick rubber flooring will outlast a 15-year warranty under standard use, regularly dropping kettlebells, dumbbells, and barbells will decrease the lifespan of even the best flooring.

rubber rolls, mats & tiles

Rolled rubber is the most economical flooring option for weight rooms (per square foot) for larger installations, and it also leaves the fewest seams. However, due to the nature of its size and weight (often coming in 25-50 foot long rolls), installation can be difficult without help. Thickness options are also limited - generally to 1/2 inch or thinner.

rubber gym floors

Rubber Floor Mats

Rubber floor mats, often sold in 4x6 foot sizes, offer another economical option with the capability of a thicker surface than rolled rubber flooring. Rubber floor mats, also often used as horse stall mats, range from 3/8 to 3/4 inch thicknesses. While the mats are very heavy and don’t move very easily, these straight edge mats will slowly started to inch apart from each other over time. They are often used as supplemental padding in areas where heavy weights will be dropped during olympic lifts.

Interlocking Puzzle Mats

Interlocking, puzzle-style tiles offer convenient installation and a tight, durable fit without shifting. These tiles are commonly only used in smaller rooms because their higher cost per square foot and the fact that they are easy to custom fit to an irregularly shaped space. The smaller 2- to 4-foot tiles (1/4 to 3/4 inch thick) are easier to manage, especially if installed by a single person.

For cardio areas, where shock absorption is less of an issue, thinner rubber flooring will suffice just fine.

gym floor rubber mats

Alternatives to Rubber

Some customers report enjoying the comfort and warmth or carpeting for cardio workout areas, but we warn against it as stains and bacteria can be hard to remove from carpet areas.

Foam and plastic materials can also be used for weight room flooring. Like carpeting, however, great care should be taken when or if you decide to use these materials. Foam mats will become indented from heavy objects, so it’s important to make sure there is proper weight distribution.

PVC Plastic flooring, such as StayLock tiles, is rugged enough to handle heavy weight equipment and offers cushioning similar to foam, but typically carries shorter-term warranties than rubber weight room flooring.

We offer a perfect flooring solution for every use space, whether it be a commercial gym or a home user in their basement. There is a weight room flooring option out there to fit anyone's needs.

Interlocking Rubber Tiles vs. Rolled Rubber Flooring Blog

If you're considering new rubber flooring for your home or business, one thing to consider is the difference between interlocking rubber floor tiles and rubber rolls. Both flooring options have their unique benefits and are best suited for specific scenarios. Rubber floors, mats and tiles are either made from a virgin rubber material, synthetic rubber material or a recycled content material and in some cases a combination of more than one rubber type.

interlocking vs rolled rubber

Home Gyms

For use in most home gyms, Greatmats recommends interlocking rubber tiles. This is because the tiles can be easily installed and don’t require any adhesive or tape to put them down. Because of this, they can also be easily removed and re-used in another room or home. Seams are typically very tight so the floor will appear to be one solid piece with no edges to trip over.

These tiles can be custom fit to any size room with only a simple utility knife.  (We recommend that you let your rubber flooring acclimate to the room temperature and humidity for at least 24 hours before cutting to size.) Rubber floor tiles are offered in a range of thicknesses and colors. Greatmats' knowledgeable customer service representatives are available to help find the perfect flooring for any space.

virgin rubber floor tiles

Commercial Facilities

In commercial facilities, you can also use interlocking rubber tiles although you may want to go with a thicker tile than you would for home gym use. Interlocking tiles are well-suited for use cases where the flooring needs to be relocated repeatedly. They are ideal if you are leasing your building, for example. Because interlocking tiles are available in various sizes, thicknesses, and colors, we can help you to find the right tiles to meet your needs.

Rubber rolls are typically less expensive but they have different requirements. All rubber rolls need a glue or tape-down installation to create a safe workout floor. Because of this, rubber rolls are a more permanent flooring solution than tiles.

rubber mat flooring

While some rubber flooring is known for its strong smell, this product is low odor. This can be important if you are using this flooring in a smaller room with low ventilation. You will find that the material binder in the rubber makes all the difference. In flooring where the rubber binder is sulfur, the rubber mats will often have a strong rubber smell. When the binder is urethane, the smell is very low.

One thing to note when considering rubber rolls is that they are not waterproof. They should be used in places where the flooring will remain dry. If your rubber flooring does get wet, you'll need to hand dry it if it has already been installed. Because of this, we recommend use rolled rubber for use in dry places such as weights rooms and supply rooms, but not wet areas such as laundry room and bathrooms.

rubber flooring rolls

Playgrounds

Playground rubber flooring is also available in an interlocking rubber tile. Greatmats offers a wide variety of different styles and fall height ratings. Playground flooring adds an extra level of cushion and protection for children in outdoor settings. It is a safer and cleaner playground flooring option when compared to both wood chips and rubber crumbs, as both of those options can be dug out, pushed aside, or thrown around.

If you have any questions regarding any of our products, please don't hesitate to call or send us a message. Our friendly customer service representatives are happy to help you.

gym flooring

Mat Thicknesses for Striking vs. Throwing or Ground Martial Arts

WIthin the market of martial arts flooring, there is a range of thicknesses for the mats. Mats for striking arts, such as Karate or Taekwondo, are much thicker than mats that are designed for Grappling or MMA. This is because each discipline needs varying levels of fall protection.

martial arts mat thickness

Generally, unless you are knocked out, you won't be falling much when participating in Karate or Taekwondo. As a rule, thicker mats are designed to absorb more impact from falls and throws.

Karate and Taekwondo training halls need flooring that will reduce impact on joints while jumping or running - as moves within these disciplines are meant to be executed from a standing or upright position,

For martial arts such as BJJ, Judo, Hapkido and Jujitsu, the body-to-floor impact level is significantly increased during the process of throwing and fallings. Because of this, foam flooring for these arts can often be up to twice the thickness of those intended for striking arts. In many cases, studios for the throwing arts will often use landing pads or crash pads during throw training. This adds significantly more cushion to the landing process, which can give needed cushion and forgiveness to beginners just learning to break their falls.

karate mat

High density foam is often the preferred material for martial arts flooring as it provides cushion without losing stability. 1 inch thick mats is commonly considered to be the crossover point between mats for striking and throwing arts.

Between 3/4 inch and 1 inch thick, most high density foam martial arts mats can provide the necessary joint protection for Karate and Taekwondo and are less expensive than the thicker varieties.

If the flooring is going to be used for throwing martial arts, the minimum thickness is 1.25 inches. Mats that are 1.5 inches thick or more are the prefered thickness for proper shock absorption without injury.

mma grappling mats

It is important that the flooring be made of closed cell foam which will not absorb moisture - or covered in a high quality vinyl - and is easy to clean and disinfect. Most foam martial arts flooring of this kind comes in interlocking, puzzle style tiles. The tiles are lightweight and are easy to install and remove. They are often times also reversible.

On the high end of the spectrum are hygienic vinyl covered foam mats. These mats are typically thicker and larger than the puzzle mat variety. They are commonly 1x2 meters in size with straight edges.

martial arts mats

Please note: if an interlocking martial arts puzzle tiles does become damaged at a seam, such as a missing tooth from the edge, the tile should be replace if the flooring is to be used for barefoot training. This is because toes can slip into these holes and become trapped during spins.

quality judo mats for sale

Why would I want an interlocking floor?

When it comes to flooring, materials, designs and installation types have a seemingly endless supply of forms and varieties. Interlocking floor tiles and mats are becoming an increasingly popular form of specialty flooring. Now, an interlocking floor can also come in a large variety of interlocking forms, with it be a snap together tab-n-loop style tile, puzzle mat, dowel connector system, a combination of these designs, or completely different for of interlocking system.

Interlocking Floor

Regardless of the kind of interlock system these flooring tiles have, almost all of them provide similar benefits to one another that simply are not available with large flooring rolls of straight edge mats and tiles.

One of the biggest benefits of interlocking floor tiles and mats is the fact that that are easy to transport. These tiles are conveniently sized and much lighter weight than rolled versions of similar flooring materials. The smaller size of each tiles allows for the flooring to be installed with less people.

intrlocking gym floors

Another benefit to the smaller sized flooring segments is the reduction of waste. For island installations, there is virtually no waste. For custom wall-to-wall installations, most interlocking floor tiles can easily be cut or altered regardless of how irregularly the room may be shaped.

Installation is probably the biggest advantage of all. Interlocking tiles fit tightly together without adhesives. Depending on several characteristics of the tiles, such as their interlocking system, the material they are made of, and what their intended use is, it may be best to glue down some kinds of interlocking tiles as they might separate under heavy, prolonged use. Others are designed specifically with heavy use in mind and will maintain their hold even under strong duress.

interlock gym floors

Most interlocking floor tiles can be either pushed together by hand, by stepping on the seams or using a mallet. Uninstalling the floors is just as easy, assuming no adhesives are used. If a section of the interlocking floor does become damaged, only the affected tiles will need to be replaced instead of replacing large mats of entire rolls of flooring.

interlock gym flooring system

This type of flooring is very popular for portable installations, such as trade show or event flooring, and in areas where floors may need to be lifted periodically, such as in basements, hotels or banquet centers. Interlocking flooring comes in many materials, including plastic, rubber, and foam. Some interlocking tiles even have a carpet or vinyl top, and a flat or raised base.

interlock gym floor