HEALTH, FITNESS
KEEP ATHLETE
YOUNG AT 62
Everyone knows that exercise preserves health and regenerates youth. Darwin “Tall” Billingsley, 62, proves that concept on the Lower Yard of San Quentin with his workout on the pull-up bars.
Incarcerated for 30 years, the 6”6’ exceptionally fit incarcerated person has defied time by keeping with his workout regimen. He uses his workout experience and training as a teaching mechanism by sharing his techniques with youth.
“Young guys are impressed with me when they see me working out,” said the Southern California native.
Billingsley arrived at San Quentin in 2016. He has considered himself an athlete for most of his life. He loves basketball and often plays on the Lower Yard court shooting jump shots and practicing his out-side game.
Billingsley admits that he has a passion for baseball, too, and he reminisced about playing first base and centerfield. His dreams of turning pro athlete did not come true, but that did not stop his athletic spirit from continuing his drive to stay fit.
“Since prisons no longer have weights, I do all calisthenics. I do incline push-ups on my fingers and my thumbs. I can do push-ups on just three of my fingers,” he explained. “I do ‘Bruce Lee’ pull-ups off the pull-up bars. I read about those in a magazine. I adopted them because I love martial arts.”
Billingsley treasures his finger strength and he described the way he sometimes uses the stairs in the building to accomplish his workouts if he cannot go to the Lower Yard.
He demonstrated a strengthening pose with one leg suspended in mid-air while standing composed on the other as he compared his body to a machine that does pull-ups with his legs extended forward. His pectorals flexed as the pose exhibited his strength.
“It took some time for me to build up my strength after not working out with the weights because I was very strong with those. But, when I started doing calisthenics was when I found out I was not strong there,” said Billingsley.
Aside from having a strain from a work-related injury, Billingsley said that he has no health issues, which he credits to working out.
“I always been healthy. I eat what I want and my metabolism burns it off.”
Billingsley’s workout also delivers spiritual and mental rewards.
“Working out comes easy for me now, it’s a mind thing and it takes believing in oneself. It takes focus. It helps with cognitive behavior; anger management, it has a spiritual correlation. Because your body keeps you in touch with yourself. Working out helps with mental awareness. It keeps me grounded and it is a good coping mechanism when dealing with mental health. It helps you stay positive,” said Billingsley.
