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Old 03-16-2004, 09:06 AM   #1
rachmass
Dojo: Aikido of Cincinnati/Huron Valley Aikikai
Location: Somerset Michigan
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 794
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Cutting down tatami mats to fit; any experiences?

Hello all,

I am thinking of cutting down some of my tatami mats so as to fit in an extra two and a half feet of training area into the dojo. Has anyone had any experience cutting down their Zebra mats and how you went about doing it (and any problems associated with it, other than of course, ruining the mat for future locations)?

best,
Rachel
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Old 03-16-2004, 09:23 AM   #2
Bronson
 
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Dojo: Seiwa Dojo and Southside Dojo
Location: Battle Creek & Kalamazoo, MI
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,677
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We used a nice sharp utility knife and finished the edge with some matching color duct tape.

The inside of the Swain mats are little chopped up foam bits glued together. Much like carpet padding just thicker and denser.

Bronson

"A pacifist is not really a pacifist if he is unable to make a choice between violence and non-violence. A true pacifist is able to kill or maim in the blink of an eye, but at the moment of impending destruction of the enemy he chooses non-violence."
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Old 03-16-2004, 09:36 AM   #3
ikkitosennomusha
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 241
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Hi Rachel,

What Bronson said is really the only way to do it but, for an extra 2.5' I would probably not do it unless you have more money than I do If you are considering moving again in months to come, I would not do it because those mats are expensive and I personally could not afford to do it. However like I said, if you can afford to replace them, go for it. I don't know if you will be able to feel the extra 2.5' to the point it is worth it?

Brad
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Old 03-16-2004, 09:44 AM   #4
Jeff Sodeman
Dojo: San Diego Jiai Aikido
Location: San Diego
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 76
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Apparently if you leave a flap of the top vinyl when you cut through the foam from the bottom you can fold it down to make a nicer edge.

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Old 03-16-2004, 10:08 AM   #5
rachmass
Dojo: Aikido of Cincinnati/Huron Valley Aikikai
Location: Somerset Michigan
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 794
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I've got a 9-month contract on the space, and the mat is too small due to my blunder of not measuring correctly. I don't like the Zebra mats (am not proposing to do it to my Swain mats), so I am willing to sacrifice two or three of them to the cutting board if necessary. If this space ends up just being too small, I am either going to move my dojo into my basement (it's free) or find another space that works better.

Thanks for the advice on how to do it.
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Old 03-16-2004, 10:52 PM   #6
Largo
Dojo: Aikikai Dobunkan/ Icho Ryu Aikijujutsu
Location: Indiana
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 247
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That depends. If you have real tatami mats (made of straw) I'd advise against cutting them.
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