How to Make a Breakdancing Mat

Polish your breakdancing skills on a homemade mat.

While you might not be able to perform a breakdancing routine at your local symphony hall, you can make your own mat with a few basic materials and take to a busy sidewalk and perform there. Breakdancing and hip hop music fit together like a hand in a glove. The art form combines music with moves that stretch the human body to amazing limits. If you want to master the art of breakdancing and have a portable stage where you can put your talents on display to others, practice 6- and 4-step moves along with windmills, headspins, flares, worms and moonwalks on your own homemade breakdancing mat.

Things You'll Need

• 1/16-inch thick plywood sheet
• Handsaw
• 150-grit sandpaper
• Carpet padding
• Utility knife
• Wood glue

Instructions

1. Cut a 1/16-inch thick plywood sheet into a 4-by-4 foot square with a handsaw.

2. Sand the edges of the plywood smooth with a piece of 150-grit sandpaper. Use a dry paintbrush to remove sand ash from the plywood board.

3. Cut a piece of carpet padding so that it measures 4-by-4-feet with a utility knife. Spread a generous layer of wood glue or spray adhesive down along the surface of the plywood. Press the carpet padding onto the top of the plywood sheet.

4. Set heavy books down on top of the padding while the glue dries to secure it to the plywood. Wait for the glue to dry, about 24 hours, before breakdancing on your new mat.

References

• Made Manual: How to Make a Breakdancing Mat
• Hip Hop: Breakdancing