Judo!

I thought I had, in some prior life. Knocking out a “hometowner” for some paper in the sprawling Gannett News Service empire, at a previous Olympics.

Then they started competing in the gym at the Beijing University of Science and Technology … and I know for a fact I have never seen this. No way. I must have been thinking of Greco-Roman wrestling.

This sport is, oh, so Japanese. Right down to the terminology, which I’m trying to wrap my mind around.

I’m here to see a wrestler who used to live in Temecula, name of Valerie Gotay. She is competent. Not a medal favorite, but solid. She won her first match, and now we have to wait for the rest of the field to play out (as well as a men’s competition, now on the mats).

This absolutely is one of those sports where you have to ask the athlete to explain what happened. Gotay was behind 100-1 … when she threw her opponent from Kazakhstan to end the match. She got something called an “ippon” — which is worth 1,000 points — and ends the match.

Hmm.

And I thought shooting yesterday was exotic.

Anyway, steamy old arena. The first place I’ve been in — or seen from the outside — that wasn’t purpose-built for these Olympics. And it’s quite plain. Like, L.A. Sports Arena plain.

Did I mention it’s steamy? I can only guess how hot it is down on the mats.

This actually is the nicest day in the week I’ve been here. It rained most of the night, and when morning came it was almost cool. Almost. Definitely bearable. But now the BOCOG people seem to be turning off the air conditioning, because they think we don’t need it?

It’s not pleasant in here.  And I’ll be in here as long as Valerie Gotay is still going at 57 kilos (125 punds).