Episode 143 - Henry Akins

Henry Akins began training in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu in 1995 at the Rickson Gracie Acadamy on Pico blvd in West LA. Shortly after he started he became the secretary at the acadamy and was spending 70 hours a week there watching and participating in all of the classes. In 1997 the school moved to the Pacific Palisades where Henry trained and assisted main Instructor Luis Heredia and also participated and trained in all of the classes taught by Rickson. During these years Henry had the opportunity to train with Rickson and help him prepare for his fights in Japan. In 2000 the acadamy moved again to Wilshire blvd in West LA. By this time Henry had begun teaching many of the classes at the school. In Feb of 2004, because of his persistence and dedication to the fundamentals and philosophies of Jiu-Jitsu, Rickson Gracie presented Henry with a blackbelt, being only the third American at the time to receive that honor. Henry then took over the school and became the main instructor there until 2008 when he was forced to stop due to a back injury. Now Henry is the head Jiu-Jitsu instructor at Dynamix Martial Arts and although Henry is no longer affiliated with Rickson Gracie or his association, he feels blessed to be able to share this art with others and to pass on the knowledge that was taught to him by the greatest Jiu-Jitsu practitioner ever.