Question for the EFF

[Lissa]

Since we have a fighting force here....

My stepfather is giving me his heavy bag once we move into our new house. We're going to hang it in the basement, so I can come home and kick things. This is very good.

I need to put some sort of mat under it though. I looked at Asian World of Martial Arts, and found those jigsaw mats like my master used to have. They're nice, but they're almost $40 for one 3'4"x3'4" mat. I'd need at least 4, and by the time you add in shipping and everything that comes to almost $200. Eek. Since I'm getting the heavy bag for free it's not so bad, but still.... It's a lot.

Anyone either a.) know where I can get the mats cheaper? b.) know where I can get similar mats that aren't Proforce? or c.) have any brilliant ideas for what I can use for flooring that won't cost so much to do?

Thanks!
Liss

[BDC]

I can tell you what I do...

I basically practice on heavy bags with my shoes on since I'm not going to have a chance to kick them suckers off if I rumble with someone and it makes your legs that much stronger. Just a good solid pair of tennis or athletic shoes will do the trick.

[Lissa]

Not a popular choice for me. Your logic is good, but let's face it, I ain't getting any younger. (And, more importantly, I did cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track for several years and then carted around tons of extra weight after that.) My knees aren't bad, but they aren't in the best of shape. (Plus, my little sister's had 4 knee surguries already, so I'm paranoid.) One of our black belts told me that it's a good idea to do self defense moves in shoes (especially heels for women), but train barefoot or in TKD shoes because there's added stress on your knees. I do feel a difference in my knees between the two, so I'll stick to barefoot, I think.

Good thought though.
Liss

[BDC]

Okay, well, look around for just some generic floor mats then, and possibly even some gymnastics mats. Companies like to brand things as "specially for" certain activities and then jack up the price.

Or get some TKD shoes. I'm looking for a pair of ninja shoes, m'self. That'd so rule.

[Lissa]

Yup. That's baiscally my question. Anyone know of where I can get generic floor mats? Or any brilliant Home Depot related ideas?

(Have the shoes. They're awesome. But we're also trying to make the basement kind of attractive and stuff. Eventually I'd love to even put up mirrors and a speed bag after we've finished it. But that's not going to happen for a bit.)

Heck. I'm just happy to have a basement!!!! (They started the first floor today. whoohoo!)

[BDC]

I'll get back to you on that. I need some mats m'self to grapple on, but so far, no dice.

[DocD83]

What you can do is go to the local high schools and ask for their old wrestling mats. Those things are huge so you can cut them to the exact shape and use the scraps to cover the walls. That's how my high school wrestling practice room was padded (it was in a converted storage room underneath the gym's stage). If they're the old, thin type you may need to double up the layers, but once you get it in there you can do almost anything and not get hurt...unless you reach back to catch yourself fom a fall. Yeah, that wasn't fun.

[PoolMan]

I'm just a little confused, Lissa. Are the mats to protect your floor, or you? Do you fall down a lot hitting the heavy bag?

I've always trained on heavy bag on ultra thin carpet or hardwood. Never occurred to me to put a mat down... I'd rather feel the ground.

[Lissa]

The mats are to protect my feet and keep them relatively warm. I'm hanging the bag in the basement, which we won't be able to finish for a few years. I prefer kicking barefoot, but the idea of swiveling my feet on unfinished concrete isn't at the top of my list Plus, I like my jumping kicks, so it's best to have a more forgiving surface than concrete. The ones I was looking at were what my master had- they were 1/2" thick ethyl acetate.

I know this gets hisses and boos from a lot of martial arts enthusiasts, but I'm really just after the fitness aspect of it right now. And I just want to keep my knees, feet (especially since I have problems with plantar facitits or however you spell it), and the skin of my feet protected a bit. I just don't want to spend $200 to do it, if I can avoid it!