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Tatami

What are tatami?

Tatami are traditional Japanese mats made from woven rush straw, often used in homes, temples, and other cultural spaces. They have a rich history in Japan, evolving from small, portable mats for nobility to standard floor coverings in homes and public spaces. The word "tatami" comes from the verb tatamu, meaning "to fold," referring to their early portable nature. Typically rectangular, tatami mats are about 1.8 meters by 0.9 meters, though sizes may vary by region.

The core of a traditional tatami mat is made from rice straw, while the surface is covered with woven rush grass (igusa), giving it a smooth, springy texture. Tatami mats are valued for their comfort, insulation, and ability to purify the air, contributing to the overall wellness of a space. In Japanese culture, tatami floors are central to washitsu (traditional rooms), serving various purposes such as seating, dining, and sleeping.

Tatami in Martial Arts

In martial arts, tatami refers to mats used as training surfaces. While traditional tatami made from rice straw and rush grass is less common in martial arts today, modern tatami mats are typically made from high-density foam or synthetic materials for better durability and cushioning. These mats are widely used in disciplines like judo, karate, taekwondo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and aikido, providing a cushioned surface that reduces the risk of injury during falls, throws, and other physical techniques.

Martial arts tatami mats are generally standardized in size (often 1x2 meters or 1x1 meter tiles) and are designed to interlock for stability. The thickness of these mats varies depending on the type of martial art, ranging from 1 to 4 centimeters. In high-impact sports like judo, thicker mats are essential for absorbing falls, while thinner mats support quicker movements in styles like karate. The surface of martial arts tatami provides a balance of grip and smoothness, allowing for safe and efficient movement during training.

The use of tatami mats in martial arts not only ensures safety but also reflects the traditional importance of tatami in Japanese culture, linking modern practices with historical and cultural significance.

Related article: Tatami: Traditional Japanese Flooring for Modern Homes

There is a difference between working out and training. So far, you just work out. You sweat a little and get a good amount of exercise. Yes, you do get a little better, a little stronger and a little smarter, but mostly your skills are derived from your natural abilities. Training is very different. When you train, you have to push your body and your fighting spirit to the point of breaking every time. When you train, you have to go right up to the limits where your physical being and your spiritual self scream ‘no more.’ And at that barrier, which naturally evolved throughout your lifetime as protection against possible physical harm and mental anguish, you must force through or be forced through into a world of seemingly unreasonable pain in order to glimpse and then realize another level beyond your current abilities. This must happen over and over again in order to truly progress on this journey. And of course, the cruelty of all this is that the next level itself is illusory, as is the one after that, and the successive barriers you must force your way through will seem boundless.” “Even for the strongest person, training extracts a heavy and oftentimes damaging toll on your body and on your psychic health, which is why I rarely push my students that hard,” he continued. “The harmful effects of such hard training is also why you need a trustworthy guide and teacher, someone who can catalyze your training but, more importantly, someone who can pull you from the abyss and show you that the white hot pressure to advance and constantly surpass your previous achievements is also an illusion in and of itself.
Kathryn Yang

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