Tatami is the Japanese word for a mat; in judo it means the training surface itself, so stepping onto the tatami means stepping into training.
- Japanese name: tatami, mat (judoinfo.com terms list).
- In judo: the whole training and contest area; the shiaijo, or competition area, is marked out on tatami.
- In BJJ: most academies use puzzle mats or rolled vinyl, and still call the surface the mat.
What does tatami mean?
The judoinfo.com terms list gives tatami simply as mat. The word originally named the straw floor mats of a Japanese house, and judo borrowed it for the padded surface the art is practised on. Modern judo tatami are dense foam panels with a textured vinyl top, laid edge to edge so the surface is flat and firm enough to stand and throw on while still taking the impact of a fall.
The word also stands for training itself. Time on the tatami means time spent practising; a judoka who has been away is said to be back on the tatami.
How are judo mats and BJJ mats different?
- Judo tatami are firm, because throws need a stable base for the thrower and the feet must grip without sinking.
- BJJ academies often use softer puzzle mats or rolled mats, because most of the session is spent on the ground.
- Both surfaces are cleaned after every session; mat hygiene is the first rule of any room.
- Both are entered with a bow in judo and in many BJJ academies, and never in shoes.
How does the IJF translate tatami?
The IJF Sport and Organisation Rules list tatami in their official terminology and translate it as "straw mat".
What is mat etiquette?
Shoes stay off the tatami, and feet that have walked barefoot off the mat get wiped before they come back on. Sandals are for the floor around the mat. Keep food and drink off the surface. If you bleed, stop and clean the spot before anyone else trains on it.
Good mats are expensive and clubs look after them for years. The kit you bring to the tatami matters too; our judo training gear collection covers the basics.
Sources
- Judoinfo.com terms list, JudoInfo
- IJF Sport and Organisation Rules, International Judo Federation