No Blood, No Tears, Just Sweat.

When I got the assignment to cover The London Throwdown, I had absolutely no idea how to approach it. I have never been to anything like it and wasn't sure what to even expect.

Once I got the all clear to be inside the competition area, I had to watch for one round just to get an idea of what they do. Once I started shooting, I was a bit hesitant with how close I got to the athletes, but after one round I figured out there really is no limit as long as you don't get in their way. There are a few photos that didn't make the cut where I was right up in their face and I was no more than 2 feet away.

This was a very mentally and physically exhausting shoot. Because there were two areas where athletes competed simultaneously, my head was on a swivel to find the best moments and facial expressions. Then there was the responsibility of making sure I was always out of the way of every single athlete. Sometimes I stood in the space that an athlete would be coming to very soon and I had to know when I needed to move as I always put it to the last second.

One of the first things I started paying attention to were the bodies of the athletes. Many had their shirts off with their muscles on display and were pretty impressive, as you can see in the photo below. My favorite part of the entire competition was the handstand pushups, the facial expressions were absolutely amazing (see the last photo).

Here are a collection of photos from the event.

Mads Yacobson chalks up his hands at the London Throwdown in London on Sunday 27 January 2013.

A judge signals a completed rep during the London Throwdown in London on Sunday 27 January 2013.

Gerd Corvers falls to his knees as he struggles to lift the weights at the London Throwdown in London on Sunday 27 January 2013.

Gerd Corvers struggles to lift weights at the London Throwdown in London on Sunday 27 January 2013.

Competitors begin the final wod, where the winner will receive £1,000, at the London Throwdown in London on Sunday 27 January 2013.

Robert Manlove pulls himself up on the rings at the London Throwdown in London on Sunday 27 January 2013.

Gareth Doody holds himself steady while doing handstand pushups at the London Throwdown in London on Sunday 27 January 2013.