Conditioning your body...

To condition the body for kung fu or karate, you'll need first and foremost to be fit. This means regular aerobic exercise, like walking, climbing stairs, jogging or even just using a skipping (jump) rope.

Swimming is also a fantastic exercise, if you have a pool of beach handy.

Whatever martial arts style you learn, be it Kung Fu, Karate, Aikido or anything else, there'll be a series of stretches and warm-up exercises you must learn.

Make them yours! Do them every single day, preferably last thing at night or first thing in the morning.

You can do sit ups and push ups to strengthen your abdominal muscles. This gives you a sexier "six pack" and gives you more protection when you cop a punch or a kick in that area.

Lastly, you have to eat sensibly - like any athlete. Talk to your doctor and maybe visit a dietician. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and eat the whole thing (not just the juice). This helps condition you on the inside as well.

And if you're really serious about looking after your body, you won't smoke ever. And you'll drink alcohol very little, if at all. That's what the winners do.