Center Your Strength and Put off the Tackle

Aside from your routine workout and strength training, add in some stabilization and core work in order to center the body's balance and power. Instead of doing sit-ups and other ab exercises, try holding some planks. Place your forearms and elbows on the floor (elbows should be close together right underneath the shoulders) and place your toes back as if they were in push-up position. Lift up your body weight and center your hips so your back is not arched or hunched over and hold for 30-90 seconds, pressing the belly button into the spine. This will strengthen the deeper layer of the abdominal muscles and improve balance, so you will be more likely to withstand a hard hit than with sheer superficial musculature.