Judoka

Warm-up room before the tournament. The judoka stands barefoot on the tatami — white judogi, black belt, back straight. Around him are fighters of European unarmed styles: boxers wrapping their hands, wrestlers warming up their shoulders, kickboxers throwing jabs into the air. No one here knows what judo is. The judoka breathes evenly, eyes closed. His huge, flat EU46 feet stand on the mats — deep yellow soles pressed completely flat, without a gap. He waits for the call. The first match begins.