This presentation by a practicing marital therapist describes how exercise behavior can be used as a preventive measure against spouse abuse. This crisis intervention approach is intended to help couples develop stopgap techniques to prevent physical violence; it is one segment of a more comprehensive approach which might include contingency contracting between the couple, the imposition of legal sanctions, individual or group therapy for both the abuser and the victim, assertiveness training, fair fight training, communication skill training, and conflict resolution. The ensuing discussion focuses on cues which signal that marital tensions are building toward violence, and then describes strategies for intervening before fighting begins. It is argued that when levels of anger or fear reach a critical point, one needs to find a safety valve for rising blood pressure and muscular tension. It is suggested that, after calling a time out and withdrawing from the scene of conflict, spouses develop cathartic activities that reduce extreme levels of tension; these should be physically strenuous, aggressive or destructive, impersonal, safe, cheap, and private. Examples of such cathartic activities are given, including breaking bottles, kicking footballs, hitting baseballs or golfballs, chopping wood, and pounding nails. (TE)