How Would You Measure Up NOW To Yourself In Your Prime?

Quick Overview

The guest, Echo Charles, states that his younger self (age 20-25) would need significantly less time to prepare for the Physical Screening Test (PST) compared to his current self because he now incorporates specific strength movements like heavy cleans and jerks and squats into his routine, which his younger self, who focused heavily on running and swimming, did not prioritize.

Key Points: Echo Charles estimates his younger self (20-25) would need less preparation time to pass the PST than his current self. The primary difference is that Charles now trains with heavy dynamic lifts like squats and cleans/jerks, which his younger self neglected in favor of running and swimming. Charles notes that swimming in SEAL training is done with fins, differentiating it from typical pool swimming. He mentions that the biggest deficit for him now compared to his prime was dynamic lifts like big snatches and clean and jerks. Charles currently incorporates specific shoulder stretches into his workouts daily to manage previously injured shoulders. He acknowledges that running is still good for overall health, but heavy lifting is critical for certain performance metrics (like lifting 300-400 lbs on the mat). The cost for Jocko Underground exclusive content is $8.18 per month or $65.00 per year.

Context: This segment of the Jocko Podcast features Jocko Willink interviewing Echo Charles, a former Navy SEAL, about physical performance, aging, and training methodologies. The discussion centers on comparing Charles's physical capabilities and training focus during his prime (ages 20-25) versus his current fitness regimen, particularly in the context of the Navy SEAL PST requirements.

Detailed Analysis

The conversation begins with Jocko asking Echo Charles how he compares his current self to his prime (ages 20-25) regarding the PST. Charles states that his younger self would require less preparation time now because his current training incorporates heavy compound movements like squats and clean and jerks, which were absent in his youth. His younger self focused heavily on running and swimming, which are different skill sets; he specifies that SEAL swimming involves fins. Charles notes that as he ages, he needs more warm-up time and specific shoulder stretches due to past injuries, and he has realized that maximizing strength lifts (like benching 300-400 lbs) has a higher risk-reward ratio now compared to his younger years. He contrasts the lack of sprinting in his current routine with the high-intensity nature of his youth training. He mentions that while running is good for general health, it doesn't maintain the same high-end strength metrics. Finally, the discussion touches on the fact that modern technology reduces the necessity for constant high-level physical output, making general fitness less immediately critical for daily functions compared to the past.