In Affiliation, Coaching, Videos
September 25, 2011
“I wanted to teach people how to better themselves,” Joe DeGain says of his passion for coaching.
The elementary-school teacher is also the owner of 810 CrossFit in Grand Blanc, Mich., and part of the HQ Seminar Staff. In this video, he talks about his coaching style and cues that have worked for him and his athletes.
DeGain says his coaching style comes from teaching elementary-school students.
“You have to be very direct with where you want students to go. You have to be extremely specific … not only with like kinesthetically how they’re moving but also how you’re going to organize a group of people,” he says.
He breaks down movements into easy-to-remember visual cues. For example, inspired by HQ’s Miranda Oldroyd, DeGain came up with his own version of muscle-up cues, and yes, Hulk Hogan is in “the muscle-up prayer.”
DeGain says coaching is constantly a learning process.
“You have to be able to think on the fly. One of the biggest keys I think is just preserving the stimulus and (thinking) outside of the box,” he says.
9min 49sec
Additional video: Coaches Prep Course: Using Dependent Cues by Austin Begiebing, published June 15, 2010.
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22 Comments on “Coaching Style With Joe DeGain”
1
wrote …
Totally stealing the Hogan and Ray Finkle cues!
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2
wrote …
Hulk Hogan lives again!!!!!!!!!!
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3
wrote …
Hey Joe,
Great video. Keep up the great work.
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4
wrote …
Joe DeGain is one of my favorite people to work with. He is an amazing coach and simply a genuinely good-hearted person. We are lucky to have him in CrossFit.
I wish you and your gym nothing but the best!
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5
wrote …
I will stole the pray to the Muscle Up god. Lov it!!
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6
replied to comment from Steve Howell…
He admitted to "gladly stealing" from other coaches and trying to make it his own. If one is a good teacher, coach, educator etc., whatever one wants to call it. Expanding on thought is a good thing.
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7
wrote …
Awesome work Joe! Very genuine.
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8
wrote …
One more person to add to my list of CrossFit role models!
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9
wrote …
Nice job Joe! Thanks for passing on all the valuable info in the video and at the Ann Arbor Cert this past summer. It was a pleasure to meet and talk to you. Good luck out there!
~Dan Anderson
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10
wrote …
Nice job Joe! Thanks for passing on all the valuable info in the video and at the Ann Arbor Cert this past summer. It was a pleasure to meet and talk to you. Good luck out there!
~Dan Anderson
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11
wrote …
Nice job Joe! Thanks for passing on all the valuable info in the video and at the Ann Arbor Cert this past summer. It was a pleasure to meet and talk to you. Good luck out there!
~Dan Anderson
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12
Craig Hysell wrote …
Amen Joe! GREAT stuff! All the best.
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13
wrote …
Love hearing Joe's perspective. Awesome video!
"....will have you tied up sucking your thumb in the fetal position." Almost spit out my coffee.
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14
wrote …
Joe,
Good to see you in Crossfit. I remember you from Athletes in Action wrestling back in the day. Bona fide good fella. Keep the eye, brutha.
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15
wrote …
Joe,
Great video! I'll be stealing the muscle up cues as well. I attended the L1 at Crossfit Maximus a couple years ago with you. Thanks!
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16
wrote …
Joe was one of the instructors at my crossfit cert! he was very helpful and very open to questions. It was great to learn from him!
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17
Keith Wittenstein wrote …
Joe is one of those people that makes an impact in people's lives. You just feel better when you're around him. I wish I had a coach like Joe growing up.
Stay strong, brother!
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18
wrote …
I am fortunate enough to be coached at Joe's 810crossfit. He is the real deal. He put a heart into every session. I could have trained at closer box, but Joe's teaching method is worth the extra drive. Thanks Joe!
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19
Grace Patenaude wrote …
Awesome video!
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20
wrote …
looks like an awesome coach and a great guy, good work
Luke
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21
wrote …
I met Joe at a olympic lifting competition at hyperfit in ann arbor a few years back. He is a monster and a great guy. Keep up the good work and glad to see you in the journal.
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22
wrote …
Loved your lessons and tips at the cert at CF TNT where I took my LV1. Really enjoyed your coaching style and personality. Just a great guy all around! They are lucky to have you!
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