Meet the New Get-Fit Guy (Part 2)

As I said last week, this two-part episode will be the final times you will read my words and hear my voice as the Get-Fit Guy. But not before I conclude giving you a full introduction to your new Get-Fit Guy podcast host, Dr. Jonathan Su. 

Before we dive into the second half of my conversation with Jonathan, I want to let you know that if you enjoy and value what I bring to your fitness life, you can continue to follow me on my new podcast called Upgraded Fitness. In that show, I will continue to give my down-to-earth fitness advice and also interview experts in a longer form format. Plus, it makes a great companion show to Get-Fit Guy so you don’t have to choose between me or Jonathan! So, look for Upgraded Fitness where ever you listen to audio. 

The New Get-Fit Guy, Dr. Jonathan Su

Brock:

During your time as an officer in the U.S. Army, you served as a subject matter expert for injury prevention, rehabilitation, and human performance. Can you tell us more about “human performance” and how you develop that?

Jonathan:

Sure, so human performance is about being able to function at your potential in your arena of competition. In the Army, it was about helping soldiers win on the battlefield. For a triathlete, it may be about achieving a personal best race time. But you don't have to be a soldier or an athlete to make use of human performance concepts because they’re useful to anyone who wants to get fit.

For me, developing human performance is like baking a cake. The essential ingredients for this cake are: movement, nutrition, recovery, and mindset.  The trick is to combine these ingredients in the right amount at the right time, and just like how every oven is different so that your baking time at the same temperature may have to be slightly different, every person is also different in terms of genetics, body type, and movement experience, so a human performance program would ideally be customized.

Brock:

How does training “tactical athletes” fit into that (and what is a tactical athlete)?

Jonathan:

“Tactical athletes” are people with the physical and mental ability to function on the battlefield. It also refers to people such as fire and rescue, law enforcement, and other emergency personnel who have to perform in austere environments. Human performance training for tactical athletes is unique and challenging because unlike athletes in regular sports, you have to develop all components of fitness.

For example, a tactical athlete needs to have the speed and endurance of a marathon runner and the...

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