POWERGRAMS

Journeyman keeps healthy with karate, running regimen At age 58, Calvin Mickens feels like a 20-year-old. "I can do things at this age that I wouldn't be able to do if I didn't exercise," said Mickens, who works out and runs about 10 hours a week. "It gives me fulfillment and joy and keeps me energetic." Mickens, an electrical and instrumentation journeyman in Maintenance at Gorgas Steam Plant, said being fit has helped him at work as well as in his personal life. At the plant, he is oen called on to troubleshoot and repair transmiers, motors and other electrical equipment, which means that safety has to be a top priority. "Some of our work is very physical," said Mickens. "Exercising makes my job easier. I don't get tired and I can move around a lot beer. I take safety seriously, and I think being healthy and staying safe on the job are intertwined." A lifetime habit Keeping fit has been a passion for Mickens most of his life. He first got the bug as a freshman at West End High School in Birmingham when he signed up for karate lessons. "I was short in stature and was picked on a lot," said the 5-foot 3-inch Mickens. "I was also fascinated by Bruce Lee's movies and David Carradine's Kung Fu series, so I decided to take karate." That was 43 years ago. Since then, Mickens has become an experienced martial artist, rising to the rank of third-degree black belt, and is proficient in several forms of the sport, including taekwondo and jiujitsu. He has competed in many tournaments in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, and has dozens of trophies lining shelves at home. Although he stepped away from the competitive circuit 20 years ago, Mickens still uses martial arts techniques as the central focus of his exercise regime. He works out at the plant gym and at home. "The thing about martial arts is you can do it your entire life," Mickens said. "I like the confidence it gives me. It has taught me how to defend myself and how to avoid confrontation." By Carla Davis Photos by Phil Free 45

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