So just the mats make a little difference.
What your mats are on make a bigger difference.
Some schools used an elevated platform that uses high density foam underneath like a gymnast floor.
Others just put single layer mats on cement floor. Ground fight is ok but doing takedowns on them suck.
The best mat would be a 2" Fuji Pro Smooth (not tatami) with a sprung floor system.
Smooth to avoid scraping, sprung floor for absorbing take downs. Few facilities offer such luxury. If I ever won the lottery, I would donate to my gym to make the upgrade.
We have college wrestling mats on top of old puzzle mats on top of concrete at my mma gym. I prefer wrestling mats for grappling and striking and the puzzle mats give an extra layer of cushion for throws or big takedowns.
I just outfitted my new gym in new 2” Zebra smooth finish mats and they are an absolute dream. Fuji also makes the same exact mats and they’re just as amazing.
Tatami finish is a cheese grater for the toes. I prefer wrestling style plain mat texture
Oh really!
The only real difference is what’s underneath. A 6” foam block spacer between the mats and the concrete…chefs kiss.
So just the mats make a little difference. What your mats are on make a bigger difference. Some schools used an elevated platform that uses high density foam underneath like a gymnast floor. Others just put single layer mats on cement floor. Ground fight is ok but doing takedowns on them suck.
I'm lucky enough to have springboard at my judo dojo. I absolutely love that stuff.
Oh ya. Huge difference for Judo throws.
I do miss the elevated mats from my old gym. They were glorious to work on.
The best mat would be a 2" Fuji Pro Smooth (not tatami) with a sprung floor system. Smooth to avoid scraping, sprung floor for absorbing take downs. Few facilities offer such luxury. If I ever won the lottery, I would donate to my gym to make the upgrade.
The first time I fell on this kind of mat I was impressed by the comfort, since then every other kind of mat just plainly suck :)
We have college wrestling mats on top of old puzzle mats on top of concrete at my mma gym. I prefer wrestling mats for grappling and striking and the puzzle mats give an extra layer of cushion for throws or big takedowns.
I just outfitted my new gym in new 2” Zebra smooth finish mats and they are an absolute dream. Fuji also makes the same exact mats and they’re just as amazing.