What Are Martial Arts Puzzle Mats Made Of?

Investing in interlocking martial arts mats is important for nya home martial arts training space, tournament venue, or professional studio. These mats are specifically designed to give athletes exactly what they need in terms of support, traction, and the ultra-important shock absorption. These mats are able to do all this because of the special foam that they’re made with.
Here's a more detailed look at the composition of puzzle mats.

Martial Art Mat Material

 

EVA Foam: The Puzzle Mat Foam 

Interlocking martial arts mats and puzzle tournament mats are made of a material called ethylene-vinyl acetate, also known as EVA foam. EVA foam is a closed-cell foam with elastic properties that give it a rubber-like softness and flexibility. EVA foam doesn’t contain any rubber, but it commonly referred to as “foam rubber” or “expanded rubber” foam. Because the puzzle mat material is so elastic, it offers excellent shock absorption.
EVA foam comes with a glossy finish that helps it resist UV radiation and cracking. The EVA foam is waterproof which makes it easy to disinfect and clean.
Because EVA is a closed cell foam, it's firmer than open cell foams. EVA enables athletes to make small movements without being compromised by too much give or flexibility under their feet. This helps athletes avoid rolling an ankle or getting their foot stuck while spinning.  
Martial arts puzzle mats are a perfect surface when it comes to the combination of functionality, safety, and convenience. 

Why EVA Foam Is the Right Choice for Martial Arts 

Martial arts mats need to be able to support athletes properly, remain durable enough to withstand both practices and competitions, and yet stay flexible enough to absorb significant shock as athletes jump, are thrown or tumble down onto the mats. Thats a steep order for any martial arts puzzle mat.
EVA foam is the perfect material to do it all. The composition of puzzle mats is essential in providing a safe area for athletes, and that's why EVA foam is so popular. One of the best features of EVA foam is its ability to provide athletes shock absorbtion. This puzzle mat foam is firm enough to support athletes, giving them a surface to push off of and land on without throwing them off balance or being so soft that it impedes their movement. It does that while still offering the shock absorbtion that takes the sting out of a take-down or throw. The shock absorption helps to minimize the chance of injury, whether during training or during an actual competition.
But that's not the only reason why EVA foam is such a great puzzle mat material. The mats are easy to clean as EVA foam is waterproof. This is an essential quality that you'll want for health and hygienic purposes. Most mats can be vacuumed and mopped with mild household floor cleaner (please refer to maintenance instruction for the specific product that is being cleaned).
EVA foam is also highly durable, so martial arts puzzle mats last longer than other foam mats due to the durable properties of EVA foam. Martial arts mats can support significant weight and can withstand plenty of use. Many mats are reversible, so you can use both sides and maximize the use you get out of the mats.

Martial Art Mat Material 

Choosing The Right Martial Arts Puzzle Mats for Your Needs 

It’s important to weigh a number of different factors when evaluating puzzle mats for martial arts studios and training spaces. 

Composition of Puzzle Mats 

The materials and foam types that are used to make a foam tile is what determines many of the characteristics of the tile. As noted above, EVA foam is ideal for martial arts mats. At Greatmats, we stock a selection of quality puzzle mats all made of EVA foam. Other retailers may advertise mats as designed for material arts, but they may not be EVA foam.
Make sure that any mat you consider is both firm enough and offers adequate shock absorption to help keep athletes safe. Purchasing a low-quality that was not specifically designed to be used for martial arts may create a floor that athletes find difficult to train on. It could also create an unsafe training environment. 

Thickness 

Even if a mat is made of EVA foam, it's still important to make sure that it's of an appropriate thickness for martial arts use. Thicker mats are able to offer more shock protection to athletes. You may find thinner mats measuring 1 inch or less that are advertised for martial arts use. These EVA foam martial arts mats are designed to be used for striking arts, but Greatmats' flooring experts do not recommend using them for throwing or grappling arts. We offer an array of other products that will fit any martial arts use case.
If the martial arts are going to be used for grappling, Greatmats recommends a thicker mat as it provides optimal safety for athletes. Our thickest martial arts puzzle mats measure 1-5/8 inch and offer a 4-foot critical fall height rating, which creates a nice, thick surface to help keep athletes safe.
Using a foam underlayment can help provide further shock absorbtion to puzzle mats if they are currently too thin. We offer a number of foam rolls in various thicknesses. Putting foam underlayments underneath the puzzle tiles can help increase the impact absorption of the tiles, and may work as a temporary fix. Make sure that you don't just use the foam underlayments alone; they are designed to be covered by another surface and can be damaged if they're used as the only flooring layer.

Puzzle Mat Material

 

Safety Surfaces 

If you've ever been thrown onto a mat and made contact with your bare skin, then you probably know how painful a friction burn can be. Some puzzle mats are specifically designed to help prevent friction burn. Many of our martial arts mats, such as our Home MMA BJJ Mats, feature a no-burn tatami surface. This tatami surface helps prevent rug burns, allowing athletes to competes and practice without having to worry about friction burns. 

Waterproof Qualities 

Look for martial arts mats that are waterproof. Waterproof martial arts tiles are the healthiest option for a competition or practice area. It also makes for a surface that is easy to clean up, since you can damp mop and easily disinfect the surface if needed. Also, water is spilled, it’s not a problem as it can quickly and easily be cleaned up without worry that the water will soak in or damage the mat.

Martial Arts Flooring Systems

 

Reversible Design 

If possible, it's a good idea to purchase martial arts puzzle tiles that are reversible. If colored tiles are being purchased, choosing dual-sided tiles with different colors on each side allows for the creation of interesting matters or marking competition rings. Just flip the tiles over to reveal the different colors, and let your creativity run wild.
But there's another benefit to reversible tiles: If one side gets worn or damaged, you can flip the tile over and keep using it. This enables the tiles to be used for as long as possible, a real benefit if the flooring is being used heavily for an extended period of time. Flipping the tiles can make a room look revitalized in minutes. 

Strong Interlock 

Puzzle tiles are simple to install as they easily fit together. The floor can be removed, reinstalled, and expanded by adding new tiles at any time. Do keep in mind, however, that if you've been using your mats for an extended period of time, some compression may have taken place and it my take
When shopping for martial arts flooring, make sure that the flooring that's chosen will tightly fit together to ensure that they don't separate during a training session or competition. At Greatmats, all of our martial arts mats are made to be the highest quality possible. While it's easy to connect the tiles, the seams fit tightly, so they remain secure while the floor is in use.
You may also want to look for a product that comes with border strips. If you're performing an island installation in the middle of a room, you can add border strips on to the exterior edges, giving the floor a clean, finished appearance. Doing this also protects the interlocking edges of outer tiles.

Martial Arts Puzzle Mats  

Buying the Right Martial Arts Mats 

If you have questions about any of our martial arts mats available, then please contact our customer service team. Our team is always happy to send product samples and provide quotes for product. Greatmats' flooring experts can help at any stage in the buying process and help decide what flooring is the best for any situation.
Most of our puzzle mats ship in cartons right to your door for your convenience. Larger orders may ship via freight.
When your mats arrive, you can get right to work on installing them. The mats are conveniently sized and easy to carry, so a single person can handle the entire installation.No adhesive is needed to install the mats, they simply fit together with their puzzle interlocking system. This allows the tiles to be installed in minutes!
Whether you're creating your own practice space at home or want to renovate your existing professional martial arts studio, puzzle mats may be the ideal solution. Please ensure that when purchasing martial arts flooring, the mats are made of high quality EVA foam in order to provide athletes with the protection they deserve and need. Greatmats can help keep athletes safe with out wide range of EVA foam martial arts mats.

Martial Arts Puzzle Mat Materials