EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS - Nicollette Sheridan Kicks Butt In St. Barth

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Nicollette Sheridan knows how to keep her butt ... and her new man ... in check!

The former Desperate Housewives actress hit the beach to practice her martial arts moves. Whoa ... Ms. Sheridan is really getting into it! Perhaps she's blowing off steam after her recent court drama.

The 48-year-old actress filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against ABC and Touchstone seeking $5.7 million.

Sheridan says she was fired from the hit ABC show after complaining about an incident during filming in which show creator Marc Cherry gave her a "nice wallop" to the head.

In court last month, the judge declared a mistrial in the case after the jury deadlocked 8-4 in Sheridan's favor. Sheridan's lawyers were able to convince the judge to shorten the amount of time they have to request sanctions against Touchstone Television for bringing up the same issues during the trial.

Sheridan and her attorneys have until April 17 to file their sanctions. Both sides of the case will be back in court on April 18 ... which is when a new trial date will be set.

Click thru to see Nicollette getting wet and wild in the ocean.