There’s more to martial arts then learning moves and kicking butt. There's a lot of physical and mental conditioning. Below is a little list of exercises that you might have knew about or thought of that will greatly improve your body and mind.

Breathing exercise

This is an exercise that will improve your breathing and heart rate. Take a seat, sit up straight and relax. Now slowly take a deep breath in for seven seconds and hold for twenty eight. Now release your breath out for fourteen seconds. This help's you learn to control your breathing, and is said to get rid dead skin cells.

Now try to do this well walking, stretching, and any other slow moving exercises. Repeat this exercise a few times every time you do it, taking deep breaths in between each one.

Visualizing

This is just a matter you being able to visualize your self doing the moves. Doing some of these will help your body put the moves to muscle memory. When at home I like to meditate for about ten minutes or so and think about every move I learned that day in class. I think of my self doing the moves in real situations to someone else. Usually someone that made me mad that.

Another one I like to do is shadow boxing. Picture your opponent throwing jabs, hooks, kicks, knees and evening try to get throws on you. Now try blocking his shots and hit him with your own. Throw some combo shots in there and try to really get into it.

I'm told by my teachers that these are important because if you could visualize your self doing it then you can do it for real and so far they have been right.

Taking a hit

Take a medicine ball and grab your self a partner. Now lay on your back and have your partner hit you with the medicine ball on your stomach, chest, and ribs. Start off slow and try to build up. Go until its too much for you to handle.

A second one you can try is standing across from each other about four to five feet away and throw the medicine ball at each others chest. Start off gently on this one too so no one get hurt. Try not to go below or above the chest when throwing it at your partner.

You can learn more by doing a search on google. You tube is also a great place to finding new ways to condition yourself. There are also many books that can help you and lets not forget your own trainers. I hope these exercises help you become a better fighter like they have me.