‘Spain is different,’ says the Ministry of Tourism. For millions of foreigners, Spain is sun, food and flamenco, little more; a lot of hedonism and a siesta every day because life is short. You have to understand the national idiosyncrasy and that means that, a priori, judo is Don Quixote fighting windmills. Spain is football, football and a little further back, more football. Then come basketball and tennis, motorcycles and Formula One. Several kilometres behind, judo appears. This is where the adventure begins precisely because Spain is different.