At my campsite in California, I wanted a little more cushion in our outdoor dojo, so I just laid mats on top of each other like two slices of cheese. When I want to clean them, I can easily peel and stack them, hose them down, and use a cheap rag with some safe cleaners (depending on how dirty they are). To dry them, I just stand them in the sun. Try to do this with a full one piece rug that covers your entire floor and you will need a crane, fire hose, and the Incredible Hulk.
Another thing that few people realize about puzzle mats is that they are easily reversible. Consider this, you’ve covered your entire floor with an expensive traditional ONE-piece rug. But then something happens that damages the surface of the carpet. This could be due to excessive use over time or an accident. Either way, you will be forced to replace the entire floor with a new carpet. With Puzzle Martial Art Mats you don’t have to replace them at all. All you have to do is flip them over and they will look BRAND NEW!
That’s right, just use your mats one side up for a year or two and then completely flip the entire set of mats for a whole new look. It’s like getting two rugs for the price of one. Since these rugs are easy to move and flip, you can also buy rugs that have different colors on each side. This way you can flip the mats over and use them for very specific needs. For example, kickboxing fitness classes can ONLY be done on the black side, while the red side is for karate classes. This could be important if you allow your shoes to be on the mat during your kickboxing class. So you have a side that allows shoes and a side that is for bare feet only.
Also, if you damage ONE of the puzzle mats, it is much easier to replace just one piece than it is to replace an entire floor. Simply remove the part that was damaged and replace it with a new one. If you want your rugs to look new, you can also throw a cheap layer of carpet over them. This way you still get the cushion, but it protects the mats from dirt and covers the lines and interlocking puzzle pieces on the edge of each mat.
To view more information on martial arts puzzle mats and martial arts equipment, visit the Pad-Up Martial Arts Equipment website.