Aug 31, 2020
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.