Now let's talk about strength training. Jimmy Fusaro recommends abstaining from weight training until you have mastered some of the basic kickboxing techniques: stances, kicks, and punches. The reasoning is that you'll be too tired from this very intense work to do any additional weight training, and will just exhaust your muscles. Wait until you're comfortable with the new techniques before incorporating strength training into your routine.

But don't think we're going to let you off easy: Jimmy does recommend calisthenics, including body-weight exercises like push-ups, dips, chin-ups, pull-ups, and squats without weights (hold your hands behind your head). Try this basic strengthening routine, and you'll soon see why the marines are so tough. It ain't easy, but it's tremendously empowering to manage your own body weight in space, pulling up to a chinning bar with the muscles of your back and biceps; to see the number of push-ups you can do increase as you get stronger; and to feel your legs burn from the squats you do with nothing but your own body weight as resistance.

Nothing gets you stronger and fitter than a routine like this, and it will serve as superb preparation for work in the ring!