Whether you’re heading to the cage, or just want to work on your overall fitness, MMA fitness will elevate your athleticism and physique for sure.

One ruling characteristic of mixed martial arts fighters is their lean and ripped bodies that just look great.

Good news is, you can look that badass too—but you have to be willing to work. MMA fighters have to be agile and enduring enough to survive several 5-minute rounds while someone is literally trying to knock them out.

Strength, speed, and flexibility are all crucial determinants of success in the cage. They’re also necessary components to developing a better physique. By incorporating exercises that require movement on multiple planes—like those that mimic striking, kicking, and grappling—you’ll have the coordination and speed to go play pick-up games while rocking a bod that looks straight from the octagon.

hough steady-state aerobic training is popular out there in the non-fighting world, it’s not the best method to get shredded, strong, and improve endurance. The best way to train like a fighter is to do high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which improves speed, endurance, and power.

Those who make their living in the cage simply must be flexible. High kicks require supple leg muscles, and a good grappler needs mobile hips for holds and escapes. Flexibility should be similarly important to you, even if you’re not slapping on a jiu jitsu gi.

While on your daily routine, make sure to maintain a balanced diet and always keep your body and skin moisturized to avoid dehydration. As with any other practice or training workout you should maintain and take care of your personal hygiene to preserve and protect your health. Remember to take a daily refreshing shower and use soaps from the highly recommended Safeguard product line.