| After years of training, I still prefer the firmer padding | | | | taking a beating from shoes. |
| of interlocking martial arts jigsaw mat (also known as | | | | It must be noted that if you do plan to allow shoes |
| puzzle mats) to soft and squishy martial arts mats | | | | onto your mat that you ask your students to bring with |
| found in old school training centers. | | | | them shoes that are for training only. Although the mat |
| I have put puzzle mats to the test with hard-core | | | | will survive most shoes, it is best to have them wear a |
| mixed martial arts training. We have done everything | | | | shoe that is less damaging to foam while still being as |
| from fitness kickboxing to full contact King of the Mat - | | | | realistic as possible. This means that you do not want |
| grappling and sparring on them. Students of my | | | | women wearing high heels to class. In our camps we |
| long-term martial arts camps have experienced | | | | usually offer the lightweight tae kwon do type of shoe |
| countless hours performing almost every type of | | | | made by Adidas and Pine Tree. Though the Vibram |
| martial arts skill on these easy to assemble martial arts | | | | Five Fingers is a great shoe for training on the mat too. |
| mats and they have proven useful time and time again. | | | | The only challenge with these shoes is that it will not |
| Unlike other mats - puzzle mats are a bit harder and | | | | be as realistic as wearing typical sneakers. You could |
| offer a more realistic training surface. It is important | | | | allow them to bring almost any sport or tennis shoe as |
| when training in realistic self-defense that the mat you | | | | long as it is only worn during class. Otherwise you will |
| train on is not too soft or unrealistic (which will lead to | | | | end up with a rather dirty mat. Although these puzzle |
| ankle and knee injuries). | | | | mats can be tough, if you get dirt ground into them |
| In our Personal Security Course (PSC) we teach | | | | from jumping and twisting - they will be much tougher |
| students realistic self-defense. To do this we require | | | | to clean. |
| that they also wear an outfit closer to what they might | | | | To see more information on Puzzle Mats and Mixed |
| be wearing in daily life - such as jeans, shoes and a | | | | Martial Arts Gear, please visit the web site Pad-Up |
| t-shirt or jacket. Since the students have on shoes, it is | | | | Martial Arts Equipment. |
| important to have a training surface that can hold up to | | | | |