[littlePen]

I'm looking into moving our little keiko kai to another location. My question is what other floors are accepable for Kendo besides a wood floor? What are the pros and cons of your alternate floor? If you practice on anything other than wood your input would be greatly appreciated.

[VIDEOHITE]

At UNC we practice usually on wood gym floors but during the summer months (due to facility scheduling) we practice in the fencing room and it has a Mateflex modular floor surface. I don't really like it that much but some of the students don't mind they say.
As far as pros and cons I would say that I have mostly used a wooden floor for kendo and it is familiar, however I will say that the mateflex surface gives good traction, is not too hard on the feet as it has a little give, and when you are dripping sweat your feet don't slip much when you take off for a strike (like it does on a polished gym floor) but it still allows you to suri-ashi fine. All in all it's not too bad I guess but I definitely prefer a wooden floor myself.

[Boripiomi]

What kind of floor do you practice on?

One that is littered with the festering carcasses of our sword-hewn enemies.

[Lilji]

thats nice
all we get is bits of glass, what i hope is crisps and random stickiness

[cyslespitocop]

thats nice
all we get is bits of glass, what i hope is crisps and random stickiness

Crisps...
You British are so adorable I could just pinch you!

..Though I think there's a law against that now.

[mosypeSom]

I have practiced on a floor that has those fake tatami mats stuck to it and I don't really care for them. The mats make it impossible to tell if you're actually doing fumikomi and unless they're really pushed together, the little gaps have a tendency to catch toes every so often.

[Pznrrmaf]

Whatever the surface, it needs to have some give. Most of the non-wood surfaces seem to be installed direct over concrete.

[esdfsdflast]

Neil is right.

The community center where we are is an old converted school building... old. like.. conventional foundation.

We work out in the auditorium on a tiled floor... it's really odd to stomp on tiled floor and hear a resounding BOOM! instead of the typical THUD! (when it's built on a slab).

[unapelosina]

ooh indeed
solid parquet flooring would not be good
or those concrete tile thingys
not good on the joints

darlington club used top train in a room with a permanently fitted canvas mat

yes crisps.
chips come (or used to) wrapped in newspaper drenched in salt and vinegar and red sauce
or if you are up north gravy and scraps

[JAMES PIETERSE]

gravy and scraps

MMMMmm! Sounds
QuiterevoltinglyDelicious!

Anywhosits..
We have the ubiquitous basketball court wood floor.

[yWleIJm4]

Ive practiced on judo mats before. That was terrible because the friction caused from the floor tears up your feet, and there is too much give on the mats. I actually realy screwed up my toe as it rolled under itself.

I have practiced on tile over concrete, and that is the worst. REALLY hard on the feet and knees. And it just feels weird.

So, if you can, get something with wood floors.

[regfortruegoo]

One in KW Mag. said that in Thailand, they practiced on Concrete floor.

[Heclailia]

Canvas-covered tatami (it's mainly an aikido dojo). Rather sticky. On humid days the toes just roll under your feet. You have to be REALLY careful with your footwork.

But when it's seiza time, I'm all smiles...

[Scukonahuy]

A concrete floor

[UtidaBrar]

human skulls

[electmobile]

We used to use the raquetball courts when the basketball gym or dance studio was in use. It has some sort of "wood" composite flooring on top of concrete. Fumikomi was no fun especially if you were doing it poorly, but tolerable for a single practice per week.

[Ervins Dervish]

I've practiced on wood and concrete floors, and on grass. I'd have to say that wood floors are by far the best, and with pretty much anything else you'll have to adjust your footwork a little if you don't wanna grind your feet up or something.

[Viafdrear]

whilst looking for places in Oldham, we have trained on a few floor types...

laminated tiles over concrete
rubber matting (saftey floor) over concrete
corregated wood (supposed to be a dance studio.. but had a leak and the floor turned into waves of warped wood)
squash court - just plain sprung wood
badminton court - sprung wood again

if the floor is concrete I feel it in my knees for a few days after.

try for wood

[fujitsusi]

Sorry for the completely useless post, but I just wanted to know if anybody else has noticed this thread was tagged with "cheese"?

[Zenthachall]

Yeah... I cheese..