Reddit mentions: The best gymnastics mats & flooring

Mad Rock crash mats are primarily for bouldering. Like to be light/portable and protect from falls onto sharp rocks so it's not going to get any softer. My friends have them for climbing. They work well for that, but yeah, too hard for aerial.

I got a mat from "We Sell Mats" on Amazon that's actually pretty decent considering it came from Amazon with free shipping. Quite a bit softer than the Mad Rock mats, but still sturdy.

My situation is almost identical to the OP's.

Yellow belt, six months in, and just beginning to get the idea of knowing various waza.

I have implemented the following to help me practice at home:

1. I bought two of the mats in link below, which are really good for practicing on, doing ukemi, shadow uchikomi, and so on. The mats are tough and dense (they do not give much), but they cushion you from the hard floor. They also fold up in a couple of seconds, and are really light. Also, they did not break the bank, being CDN $140 (depending on the colour you get)
   
   https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B072BN45BW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
   
2. In order to try to counter developing bad habits when doing uchikomi at home, I suggest the following:
   
   

• Tell your Sensei that you want to video (on your phone) him/her doing various waza
  
• Then have someone/your Sensei film you while you execute the same waza under their watchful eyes, using correct technique
  
• Each time you practice at home, video yourself at various points
  
• Compare the video of you practicing with the video of you and your Sensei from the dojo
  
• Take some of the 'home' video in to the dojo (or post it) so that your Sensei can critique it
  
  3, I am also in the process of making a Grappling Dummy for home use
  
  4, In addition to looking at Judo waza in different books and videos (and asking my Sensei about the variations that I see in these books for various waza), I used to keep a kind of Judo Diary.
  
  During each practice, I would make a mental list of what I needed to remember, and would type it out when I got home.
  
  As an alternative to typing, I sometimes record myself speaking my notes onto the computer; or, if there was a lot to remember from that particular practice, I might dictate into my 'phone on the way home.
  
  If there was a tonne of useful stuff from one class, as well as potentially dictating on the way home, I might video someone doing and explaining the technique in the class.
  
  Or, I might choose to just focus on remembering one technique well, rather than trying to remember several badly.
  
  As I have become more familiar with learning what I need to learn (i.e., learning that I need to be aware of Tai Sabake, Tsukuri, Kuzushi, Kake and so on for each waza), I find myself remembering things better, although not perfectly.
  
  I think that recording some form of structured, correct and accurate record of the various waza (such as video, keeping a diary and so on) is essential at first.
  
  The real difficulty for me is actually putting what I have learned into practice!
  
  Good luck with this.

Maybe something like this?


Happyville Smart Mat by PlaSmart - Multi-purpose Play Mat, 78" x 46" Giant Play Surface, Road/Cars Floor Mat, Washable EVA foam, Ages 0 and Up https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00KA8PUXO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_AU0bBb0B195NW


It's smooth like wood, but not nearly as squishy as puzzle mat foam. Lo zooms his cars and trains on it. Just like smooth wood, the tracks will slide on it.





What you could do, is build your own train table without the legs. Get the measurements off Amazon, and use trimming around the edge so the tracks won't fall off the table.

I got two of these “for my daughter” so “she” can do “gymnastics”. Not high quality, but TOTALLY fine for messing around solo or wrestling with my boys.

Blue New 4'x8'x2"Thick Folding Panel Gymnastics Tumbling Mat Gym Fitness Exercise Mat R4
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KT40Q06/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_MwCVxRFBjiQFT

4 of these - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IERSS8C/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_tWzGAb7WWB9BD

Easy to put together, easy to fold up and store.

How much space do you need?

I have 2 of these which velcro together.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ZAIW3L6/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They're also easy to put away or move.

What about something like THIS? Too much?

Just got 2 of theses for myself for a BJJ gift. BalanceFrom GoGym All-Purpose 4'x10'x2 Extra Thick High Density Anti-Tear Gymnastics Gym Folding Exercise Aerobics Mats (Black) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B072BN45BW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_orB4DbP8P9STV

gymnastics mats like this: http://www.amazon.com/Tumbl-Trak-Purple-Tumbling-Folding/dp/B006FFCM1O

Though a yoga mat could be enough if you learn to roll properly.

A gymnastics mat similar to https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01GUYYK32/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1509845404&sr=8-15&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=gymnastics+mat&dpPl=1&dpID=41BIVq%2BTidL&ref=plSrch would work well

I did this for a few years. I just used a foldable mat (something like this but a different brand.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ENUM38E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_gq6rDb7TRS9PX

Get something like this. There are bigger ones but yoga mats tend to be slightly gripper and that can be an issue for shrimps and such. Also some yoga mats don't have too much padding, especially for rolls

I just started off on the grass. I tried each trick as I felt like it for inconsistent intervals until I got a trick down, then moved onto the next one. My intervals could range anywhere from 10 minutes to near an hour, all depending on how I was feeling and how long it took me to do the trick. I bought my first mat a few weeks ago, this one in question

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071VK4DTK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_uFWxDbSED3VSD

I use it when a trick has me particularly at risk of eating dirt, and step off once I feel confident enough to go on grass.

Here are the mats .

So far they feel solid. Gonna roll on them tomorrow and post a review in the next few weeks.

Homevibes 4' x 6' x 3" Gymnastics Mat Thick Folding Panel Tumbling Mat Gym Exercise Aerobics Mat with Handle Compatibility with Stretching Yoga Cheerlanding Martial Arts, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H79PFLT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-DVzCbHA4W65T


I use a couple of those. You gotta reset a bit, and I wouldn't suplex someone onto them. But they work for rolling, and I've been to competitions that had a smaller competition area. Plus side is they are way cheaper than most mats marketed to grapplers.

I just ordered a couple of [these] (https://www.amazon.com/Black-Folding-Gymnastic-Fitness-Exercise/dp/B00IERSS8C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504723462&sr=8-1&keywords=Black+4%27x8%27x2%22Thick+Folding+Panel+Gymnastic+Mat+Gym+Fitness+Exercise+Mat+R4)

8 x 8 for $135

If anyone else have this problem I recommend this large gym mat. The type gymnasts use, 4" thick, 6 feet x 12 feet (folds up), like $100 to $200. If downstairs have a problem when kids are on this, they deserve to be ignored.

Wouldn't 2 of these be the same damn thing?

https://www.amazon.com/ProSource-Tri-Fold-Exercise-Carrying-Gymnastics/dp/B01ENUM0W8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1494943862&sr=8-3&keywords=tumbling%2Bmat&th=1

if this is what OP is paying for shok-lok then this is a really terrible option. This is 4'x8' for $380, meanwhile stall mats are 4'x6' for $40 at Tractor Supply.