Henry Akins

Henry Akins is a Jiu Jitsu instructor, the third American to receive a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt from legendary fighter Rickson Gracie He is a notable Vegan Athlete and former trainer of star Ronda Rousey, in addition to many other notable past and current students. He is currently an instructor and co-owner at Dynamix MMA in Los Angeles, California.
Biography
Akins grew up in Oklahoma, where he witnessed many fights in which trained wrestlers dominated their peers, instilling in him the desire to find a martial art which used the ground. Henry's step-father introduced him to Thai Boxing at an early age, which was followed with training in Taekwondo. Akins left his home in Oklahoma the mid 1990s to seek out Rickson Gracie in West Los Angeles, and began training under Gracie in 1995 while also working as the academy's secretary. Akins was awarded the level of black belt in 2004, when, during a training session, Gracie paused, walked over and picked up a belt which he then handed to Akins. Akins credits Kung Fu Theater and Bruce Lee as childhood inspirations.
Career
Akins trained under Rickson Gracie from 1995 until 2010. After starting as the secretary in 1995 and eventually teaching, Akins became the head instructor or "Professor" at the Rickson Gracie Academy from 2005 to 2008 before resigning due to a back injury. He opened his own school, Dynamix Martial Arts, in 2011, where he is the head instructor in West Los Angeles, California, and teaches alongside former students Antoni Hardonk and Vladimir Matyushenko.
Akins has been an instructor of many notable career MMA athletes, including Antoni Hardonk, Kamal Shalorus, Ronda Rousey, Vladimir Matyushenko, Jared Hamman, Stefan Struve and Kron Gracie, whom he trained through brown belt.
Technique
Akins notes that Jiu-jitsu was developed for practical street fighting with an emphasis on taking an opponent to the ground for one-on-one submissions, and then formed the basis for MMA style fighting. Known as "the Jiu-Jutsu Super Computer," Akins is the foremost authority on invisible or "hidden" jiu-jutsu, a means by which methodical body posturing and key leverage points during grappling inflicts a maximum amount of pain. This is the style practiced by Akins teacher, Rickson Gracie, and was the form envisioned by the creator of Brazilian Jiu-Jutsu, Hélio Gracie.

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