Tatami are the mats traditionally used to cover the floor of a Japanese room, originally made from tightly woven rice straw with a soft rush covering. In a martial arts context, tatami refers to the padded flooring used in dojos for arts that involve throwing, falling or groundwork, such as judo, aikido and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, where a hard floor would make safe training impossible.
Most training halls today use modern interlocking mats rather than traditional straw tatami, typically made from dense foam with a vinyl or similar surface, designed to absorb impact from falls while still allowing grip and footwork. Thickness and density vary by intended use: mats built for judo and BJJ, where hard throws and groundwork are common, are generally firmer and thicker than lighter mats meant only for standing practice.
Our mats and flooring guide covers choosing mats for a club or home space, and the entry on ukemi explains the falling skills these mats are meant to support.
