Tatami is a special traditional floor covering in Japan. It is a woven cane wrestling mat stuffed with rice straw used in sports training. The manufacture of Japanese mats from such materials is considered the traditional way of their production. However, in modern conditions, preference is usually given to PVC coating, synthetic wool, polyethylene foam, etc.
In addition, the word "tatami" today is often called a special type of bed. They were also invented in Japan, and they are actively used to create interiors in oriental style.
In stores you can find a wide selection of beds and mats of this type. However, people often prefer handmade products, so many craftsmen will be interested in learning how to make tatami mats at home, and at the same time get some tips on how to use them.
Where use
Most sports schools that teach various types of martial arts use tatami (sports mats) for security purposes. SuchThe floor covering protects against bruises, significantly reducing the risk of injury from impact when falling and jumping to the floor. It is elastic and moderately dense and is a must for both professionals and amateurs in athletics, aikido, sambo, karate, judo, other types of martial arts and, of course, rhythmic and artistic gymnastics. In children's sports sections, tatami creates the psychological comfort of the group, increasing the level of self-confidence of young athletes.
Benefits
A number of unique properties of tatami distinguishes it from many flooring and mats, due to which it is often made even at home. The benefits of tatami include the following:
- no smell, which makes the coating harmless to use;
- light mat weight;
- increased shock resistance and noise isolation;
- average service life is about 5 years;
- easy to install and dismantle;
- Anti-slip coating resistant to moisture and chemicals;
- the presence of two working surfaces.
The last circumstance allows using the other side in case of damage/wear of the material on one side.
How to make tatami for martial arts
You can contact the specialists with an order for such a mat or purchase one already assembled in a specialized store. However, it is not so difficult to make it yourself.
For assembly you will need:
- strong (possibly nylon) rope;
- scissors;
- sports mats (the size is selected individually according to your request);
- PVC coating.
We cut the rope into segments that are 10-15 cm longer than the side of the wrestling mat (as a rule, the coating has the shape of a square). We lay the segments in the form of a grid on the floor. We place them perpendicular to each other, at a distance of 50 cm from each other along the plane. Then we lay the mats (standard - 1x2 m in size). The next step is to gently stretch the PVC coating from the middle of the mats. Align. We tie pieces of rope to special eyelets on the PVC coating on each side, evenly stretching the canvas around the entire perimeter. After a day, the coating will completely level off. Done!
Note: if the presented version of how to make a tatami with ropes does not suit you for some reason, you can tuck the PVC under the mats and simply glue the edges of the cover by overlapping each other.
How to make a tatami: we make a bed with our own hands
A circular saw is used to make the frame, and small parts can be cut with a jigsaw.
In addition, those who are interested in how to make a tatami (bed) should know that they cannot do without a router.
For a finished mattress measuring 160x200 m, you will need boards:
- 2 pieces 160 and 168 cm long;
- 2 pieces of 208 cm.
You also need a 120 cm long bar.
Working order
On the front panel (board 208 cm long) make a 45 degree cut. Collect the base at the corners,played by the legs to get a perfectly square shape.
For this purpose, a bar is cut into four segments 30 cm long. These will be the legs. Then markup is done. To do this, mark the middle on each leg. Use a corner for convenience. On each of them, a corner of 4 cm is cut out, that is, along the width of the board, so that it lies in this recess.
Grind all parts by machine. Then the structure is assembled. To do this:
- twist the structure with self-tapping screws;
- from the inside, a bar is attached flush with the legs, which should support the slatted bottom;
- bolt 2 iron plates to support center rail;
- Fibreboard of the right size is applied to the back of the tatami;
- grab it from the bottom with screws so that it is possible to slightly bend the beam to insert the leatherette cloth;
- pave the foam to be fixed from the bottom edge;
- leatherette is pulled on top;
- fix it at the back with staples with a construction stapler.
At the end of the assembly, the back side of the backrest is covered with a sheet of plywood and fixed with short self-tapping screws with a wide head.
The bed is being painted and varnished.
Mat care
Having figured out how to make tatami mats, you also need to learn how to care for them. This will protect the mats from wear and tear and maximize their service life. Recommendations are:
- store only horizontally;
- clean surfaces withwith a damp cloth and chlorine-free cleaning products;
- avoid temperature fluctuations during transportation and transportation, as this negatively affects the surface of the mat, as well as direct sunlight;
- overheating causes the tatami to warp.
Now you know how to make a tatami at home, and you can become the owner of such a bed or mat for training, getting off with minimal financial costs.
