Leading the warmup this year was Griffin, a coach with Hideout Fitness of Irvine. He studied Kinesiology at Concordia University, Irvine, and competed as a 4-year NCAA collegiate athlete, giving him a strong foundation in both performance and injury prevention. Griffin volunteered his time and talent to make sure our participants were ready to go and to motivate them to do their best.
We asked him to tell us a bit more about himself and his own motivation.
Why did I come for the walk?
I was approached and asked to lead the warm-up for the 15th Annual Walk for Independence,
and the decision to participate felt natural to me. My family has supported individuals with
developmental disabilities for as long as I can remember, so I grew up seeing the importance of
compassion and advocacy. Because of that, this event wasn’t just another volunteer opportunity, it was something that aligned with my values and background.
Being able to contribute using the fitness knowledge I’ve gained through years of mentorship at
Hideout Fitness made the invite even more meaningful. It felt like a chance to merge my
personal background with the skills I’ve been working at building. I saw it as an opportunity not
only to give back, but to honor the people who poured into me and to support a community that
has always meant something to my family.
My inspiration for becoming a coach
My inspiration to become a coach started long before I ever imagined myself in this role. It
began with my good friend and mentor, Jacob, who coached me when I was a young athlete.
He did far more than teach me proper form or how to train. From him, I learned how to take
ownership of my health, how to serve others, how to lead by example, and how to structure my
life.
That kind of mentorship is rare, and it changed the direction of my life. Over time, I realized that
coaching isn’t just about sets and reps; it’s about walking with people through their challenges,
celebrating their small victories and helping them discover what they’re capable of. That
realization made it clear that I could combine my passion for helping others with my love for
fitness. Becoming a coach at Hideout Fitness became the natural next step for me.
What I learned about people with developmental disabilities
Being part of the walk reminded me how uplifting it is to be around individuals with
developmental disabilities. From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed. As I led the warm-up, I
watched participants pour their energy into every stretch and movement. Their enthusiasm was
contagious to the people around them as I watched more people begin to participate as the
warmups went on.
Seeing how fully present they were, how excited they were to participate, and how their joy
spread to the people around them left a real impact on me. It challenged me to reflect on how I
show up in my own daily life. I walked away encouraged to carry that same sense of joy,
authenticity, and openness into everything I do. In many ways, I feel like I received just as much
from the experience as I gave.
Thanks, Coach!
