Martial arts: better tatami (carpet) or hard floor like wood? Esp in Shaolin Kung Fu?

A tatami is really only necessary when you're going to be falling over or being thrown on a regular basis and with some force, like in judo. Otherwise floor is all right, once you know how to fall. In judo you wouldn't last an hour having to do ukemis (repetition of movements) on a hard floor.

Martial arts: better tatami (carpet) or hard floor like wood? Esp in Shaolin Kung Fu?
Do they have carpets where you defend yourself against a mugging?
Reply:Hardwood floors.
Reply:It's best to train in all varieties of environments. You should practice on hard wood, wet floors, carpeting, outdoors (such as in the woods), etc.





You never know when you'll need to defend yourself or someone else.
Reply:From a training standpoint hard wood floor although an indoor-outdoor type carpet without a pad may offer a little more padding and not be so bad as far as the torsion and impact on your knees and ankles when practicing. Definitely not a carpet with a pad as that causes your foot to catch a lot more as it sinks in and on your rotating and pivoting type moves, which Kung Fu has a lot of; all the twisting can create problems in your knees and ankles over time.





Century makes a flooring mat that you fit together that is very nice and offers you some padding without being to soft and would extend the life of your working out and minimize the wear and tear on your knees and ankles.
Reply:If you are talking about training daily - I've tried both and prefer a very short carpet because its easier on the feet when spinning and jumping. But there isn't alot of difference.





I agree that you should not limit your training to the dojo, however. You should workout with shoes on sometimes and dressed up in your winter parka if you live in such a climate. Because you should be prepared to react in all situations.